it appears that I have a mite infestation as well. based on all the comments on this site that appears to be a problem for a lot of people this year. Are they brought in by wild birds? There have always been a few wild birds coming and going to help themselves to the feed, but I didn’t see that there was a problem.
I noticed when we had a foot of snow in January more wild birds were making their way into my covered chicken yard where I had a feeder hanging, and even after I removed that they made their way into the small low chicken door into the chicken house. I came home two different times to find a flock of starlings in the chicken house in January when snow was on the ground (they came in through the small chicken door). I chased them out and perhaps it’s just since then that my chickens have had a mite infestation.
I took more stringent measures regarding feeding - no longer providing a feeder in the covered chicken yard. Closing up the chicken house at night so that in the early morning hours when the wild birds were most likely to appear, they couldn’t get into the chicken house and finally I replaced the usual hanging feeders with a metal feeder device that sits on the floor inside the chicken house that has a pedal that the chicken has to stand on in order to access the feed. A starling or other wild bird would be too light to activate the pedal and therefore not be able to get to the feed and therefore learn not to come back to eat there anymore. That was recommended by someone on this site when he said “stop feeding the wild birds.” And he was right. That method seems to be working pretty well as far as reducing the visits of wild birds, but also it’s not snowing anymore and they have access to plenty of other critters on the ground.
I cleaned out the coop thoroughly a few weeks ago and sprayed it with permethrin but I think we still have a problem. I guess I need to continue to clean it out and treat the birds & coop with the permethrin spray? which is what I’ve been using but I haven’t doused them very thoroughly.
Does it help to put the permethrin powder in the coop on the floor before I put bedding back in? I used DE but somebody says that’s not useful.
Are wild birds bringing the mites? I’ve had chickens for 10 years and have never had an infestation like this before.
It sounds like you're taking some great steps to handle the mite issue, but I completely understand how frustrating this can be. Let's break down the situation and explore your options.
1. Are wild birds bringing the mites?
Yes, wild birds can definitely contribute to a mite or parasite infestation in your chickens. Mites and other pests can hitch a ride on wild birds, particularly during the winter months when they seek shelter and food. It seems likely that the starlings visiting your chicken house could have introduced the mites or exacerbated an existing issue. Even though the wild birds have access to food elsewhere now, mites can still be passed around by contact with other birds or animals, so it’s great that you’re being proactive about limiting their access.
2. Permethrin and Treatment:
Yes, permethrin is effective for treating mites, but it sounds like you may need to be more thorough with your application. Here are some tips for using it effectively:
- Bird Treatment: Ensure that you’re spraying the chickens themselves thoroughly, not just the coop. Focus on the areas where mites tend to hide, such as around the vent, under wings, and the back of the neck. You may need to repeat the treatment several times (usually 7–10 days apart) to break the lifecycle of the mites.
- Coop Treatment: It’s crucial to spray every corner of the coop, including roosts, nests, and cracks where mites can hide. After cleaning the coop and treating it with permethrin, it’s a good idea to keep the chickens out for a bit to let the spray settle. Treat the coop in the evening when the chickens are inside for the night, then let the coop air out before returning them in the morning.
3. Permethrin Powder and Diatomaceous Earth (DE):
While permethrin spray works well for both birds and the coop,
permethrin powder can be used in the bedding to target any mites that may be in the environment, especially if you apply it before placing new bedding. However, DE (Diatomaceous Earth) is often overrated as a mite treatment. While it can help with some pests, it doesn’t have the same potent killing power as permethrin. So, in terms of effectiveness,
stick to the permethrin and consider avoiding DE for now, unless you're using it in conjunction with another method.
4. Additional Steps to Prevent Mites:
- Routine Cleaning: Continue with regular coop cleaning, removing old bedding, and spraying or dusting with permethrin. Check your chickens and the coop thoroughly for signs of mites, as they can sometimes be difficult to spot without close inspection.
- Quarantine: If you ever introduce new chickens into your flock, consider quarantining them for a few weeks to avoid bringing in any pests or mites from other farms.
- Monitor Your Flock: Since the infestation is still lingering, continue to monitor your chickens closely for signs of mites, such as excessive scratching, pale combs, or a decline in egg production.
You’ve made some great changes already, like limiting wild bird access and using the pedal feeder. Keep up with your treatment and prevention strategies, and with some persistence, your flock should be mite-free soon. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you need more advice on this! Keep up the good work.
