Red mites

[noisegeyser]

I found a red mite on my rooster today. I had him on my lap and when I pulled my arm away, there it was on my forearm. I looked him over and I didn't find any mite eggs, irritated skin or scabs. He has dropped a few of the small feathers on his feet, but new ones are already coming in so I don't think that's related. Tomorrow I am going to completely clean out my coop, sprinkle DE everywhere and replace the roost. What else should I be doing to get rid of these things? I've heard these in particular are notoriously hard to get rid of. Worst case scenario, I will just give my chickens a thorough bath and move them to another building until this is taken care of.

 

[azygous]

Cleaning won't hurt, but DE won't do anything to get rid of the mites. You need liquid permethrin or spinosad to get into all the crevices where mites hide. They spend their days off the chicken in their cracks in the coop and come out at night to suck blood from your chickens.

 

[noisegeyser]

Cleaning won't hurt, but DE won't do anything to get rid of the mites. You need liquid permethrin or spinosad to get into all the crevices where mites hide. They spend their days off the chicken in their cracks in the coop and come out at night to suck blood from your chickens.

I will order some permethrin spray and powder as well, will giving them a good bathing area with deep filler sand help?

 

[azygous]

Dirt bathing is essential for chickens to maintain healthy feathers and skin. However, mites don't care. They don't live on chickens the same as lice. Therefore, dirt bathing can help a chicken control their exposure to lice, but mites will crawl up their legs to feast on their blood at night while they roost.

 

[noisegeyser]

This is what I ordered:
https://www.domyown.com/martins-per...A7tMX3A7dLmB63KxZBy_P6hIBQx2T-QoaAsjXEALw_wcB

I've never used Permethrin before, diluted in water is it mild enough to apply directly to their skin?

 

[cmom]

Cleaning won't hurt, but DE won't do anything to get rid of the mites. You need liquid permethrin or spinosad to get into all the crevices where mites hide. They spend their days off the chicken in their cracks in the coop and come out at night to suck blood from your chickens.

I agree. If you have a TSC they carry the permethrin powder, premixed spray bottles and the concentrate. I use the dust on the birds and the spray in the coops being sure I spray inside the coop thoroughly every crack and crevice. I use the concentrate mixed with water in a one gallon sprayer with a wand to get the hard to reach areas.

 

[Ralph Obrien]

You may also spray the cracks in the hen house with vegetable oil this will smother them.

 

[cmom]

I dust the birds. Repeat spraying is necessary because it won't kill the mites eggs.

 

[noisegeyser]

The spray and powder I ordered should be coming in the mail on Friday. Dumb question maybe, but how can you be certain that you aren't applying too little or too much powder? It is a pesticide after all, don't want to hurt them.

 

[Folly's place]

Read the labels on the products, and follow directions.
Wear protective clothing, and at least a N95 dust mask, and wash everything when you are done. Keep it all away from your cats!
Mary