Red Mite Infestation Elector PSP on Dirt?

[User4477]

I have two wooden coops with attached runs, each enclosed in 10x10ft dog kennels and I currently have a red mite infestation in both coops. I plan to clean out the shavings in the coops, spray the birds, and spray the wooden coops with the elector psp and water solution but I don't know if I need to spray the dirt in their runs as well. Last night I found mites all over the food container in their run which is why I ask.

Also, will the wood rot or grow mold by spraying it with the elector/water solution?

Thank you

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Do you mean red spider mites or red roost mites.

Red spider mites are coppery red little bugs that look like spiders, come out during the day, leaving little cob webby things around, and never change color, and are totally harmless garden bugs. You can clean out the bedding, do a general spray, and increase humidity to get rid of them, but they aren't a worry to chickens.

If you are talking about red roost mites, or chicken mites, those hide in the crevices of the building during the day and come out at night to feed on the birds. They are greyish or black when unfed and deep blood red when full. They are hard to get rid of as they are so adept at hiding in the dark nooks and crannies of your coop.

If you are talking about red roost mites, or chicken mites, clean and spray everything getting deep into corners and crevices. The little devils can go weeks between feedings, so will rise again. Old timers often burned a coop down to get rid of them.

Good luck clearing your coop.

LofMc

 

[janell12]

I have two wooden coops with attached runs, each enclosed in 10x10ft dog kennels and I currently have a red mite infestation in both coops. I plan to clean out the shavings in the coops, spray the birds, and spray the wooden coops with the elector psp and water solution but I don't know if I need to spray the dirt in their runs as well. Last night I found mites all over the food container in their run which is why I ask.

Also, will the wood rot or grow mold by spraying it with the elector/water solution?

Thank you

We have them right now and just caulked every crevice of our already painted wood coop. We can see where they have died off (almost like a fine white/grey paint mist) from our 1st application of Elector PSP a few weeks ago. There are still a lot of mites though, so hopefully caulking everything and painting and caulking the wood nesting boxes helps to prevent a big infestation in the future. We had mites last summer and they seemed to be gone with 1 application of Elector PSP that time. This year is very different, but our dogs and cat also have fleas and we haven't had fleas in probably 6 years...so maybe it's a "good" year for bugs.

 

[cincyfarmgirl]

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.

 

[Birdmommalovesherfowls]

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.