Red mites + feather loss

[robinwhiskers]

I think I had mites a while back and now I've noticed them again, I looked beneath the shavings in the coop I saw some red mites today. The reason I looked is because most of our birds have little to no feathers under their wings, a couple have naked backs, and one, an Orpington, (my favorite bird) is missing a lot of feathers on her lower back and around her tail (not really the vent area) but the top of her tail and around it. I thought it was rooster damage so I've been keeping the rooster separate, I changed most of the bedding in one part of the coop a couple days ago so today I put DE on the birds and all parts of the coop, so hopefully that will eliminate this problem. How long do you think it will take the birds to grow their feathers back? I never seen actual mites on the birds, just them missing feathers. They're all a little less active with this heat but besides the missing feathers they seem to act normal.

 

[All Ball]

I think you'll have to wait until they've gone through molt before you'll see new feathers come in - it's typically just that once-a-year event.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

I think I had mites a while back and now I've noticed them again, I looked beneath the shavings in the coop I saw some red mites today. The reason I looked is because most of our birds have little to no feathers under their wings, a couple have naked backs, and one, an Orpington, (my favorite bird) is missing a lot of feathers on her lower back and around her tail (not really the vent area) but the top of her tail and around it. I thought it was rooster damage so I've been keeping the rooster separate...

DE or Diatomaceous Earth is a fairly good filtering medium for removing toxins from crude oil or even chemicals and human biological contaminants from swimming pools but DE makes a indifferent insecticide and about the only way it will reliability kill insect pests is if you drop a 50 pound bag of DE right on top of the insect pest that needs killing. Sorry, but in the real world there are no FREE LUNCHES.

In the meantime read up on the lifecycle of all the mites, and insect pest that bedevil poultry. The Depluming mite is a good place to begin.

 

[llombardo]

DE or Diatomaceous Earth is a fairly good filtering medium for removing toxins from crude oil or even chemicals and human biological contaminants from swimming pools but DE makes a indifferent insecticide and about the only way it will reliability kill insect pests is if you drop a 50 pound bag of DE right on top of the insect pest that needs killing. Sorry, but in the real world there are no FREE LUNCHES.

In the meantime read up on the lifecycle of all the mites, and insect pest that bedevil poultry. The Depluming mite is a good place to begin.

Are you speaking of the food grade? There are two different kinds.

I have to disagree with you. Just a few days ago I noticed ants in the house. I sprinkled a small amount in the area. Ants are gone and were gone within 24 hours. I also use it successfully mixed with neem and yarrow on my dogs as a flea and tick repellent. I use it as a preventative for worms for the dogs also, a small amount daily for 5-7 days out of the month. 7 dogs, the oldest 14 and they have never had worms. I have never had DE not work.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

All FOOD GRADE DE is, is Diatomaceous Earth that has had the bejesus treated out of it in order to remove most of the natural contaminants normally found in dirt.

The same is true for other "food grade" products like "food grade" mineral oil etc.

BTW, "food grade" mineral oil is a crude oil derivative (the word mineral means that it came out of the ground) that has been refined, to the point that most of the worst chemicals have been removed.

If a market could be established to buy it don't be shocked to see "Food Grade" chicken poop for sale at a health food emporium near you.

In fact you may already be eating food grade manure because all so called "probiotics" are just sanitized microbes like those found in the gut of that disgusting person smelling up the stall next to you in a public restroom.