Seasonal Mite Control

[Maggie S]

Hi Everyone: This is the second Spring I'm having a mite bloom in my flock. I use food grade DE all year round in the coup, and in the nesting boxes. Last year I ended up treating the flock and coup with a liquid Spirochete spray that worked well. I rather not use it again if I don't have to. Any other thoughts on what I'm doing wrong? I completely change out bedding about every 8 days, and spot clean in between. My girls are free ranging during the day, and eat and sleep in the coup. Thank you in advance.
Maggie

 

[Lazy Farmer]

Hi Everyone: This is the second Spring I'm having a mite bloom in my flock. I use food grade DE all year round in the coup, and in the nesting boxes. Last year I ended up treating the flock and coup with a liquid Spirochete spray that worked well. I rather not use it again if I don't have to. Any other thoughts on what I'm doing wrong? I completely change out bedding about every 8 days, and spot clean in between. My girls are free ranging during the day, and eat and sleep in the coup. Thank you in advance.
Maggie

Here is some excellent advise:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...hat-new-girl-came-with.1237085/#post-19852631
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...hat-new-girl-came-with.1237085/#post-19852631

Spoiler: Click here for your Welcome!

 

[Life is Good!]

Welcome!

I've dealt with heavy mite infestations by using Sevin dust (powder, in the garden section of hardware store) in the coop primarily. After the girls leave in the morning, I shut them out temporarily, do a complete clean of the coop and then shake Sevin over all corners, crevices and cracks (especially nest boxes and roost bars). Add pine shavings on top and let the girls back in.

In the run, I've got an old wheelbarrow bucket buried in the ground that I fill with wood ash (from our burn pit) and DE. The girls self-administer this treatment. If I'm low on ash, I'll add sand instead.

If the mites are REALLY bad on an individual bird, I'll treat her directly with Sevin - wait until they go into the coop at night, then find the hen infected and with a mask on you, "puff" a bit onto her rump (the bottle has holes which when you squeeze the sides create a 'puff' kind of like baby powder) with a gloved hand kind of rub it around down around her rump and tail. The mites like to live near her vent...so you want the stuff to touch them directly. I repeat the experience in 7 days to verify that the mites are long gone.

I only treat specific birds who I KNOW have mite issues. I'd prefer not to treat them with this stuff...but if only for 2x/yr, that's not a huge exposure in my mind. There are other treatment options, search the "Predators and Pest" section of these Forums to learn more. This is what has worked in our coop for 8 years now.

 

[Folly's place]

Welcome! De is ineffective, as you've discovered. Carbaryl is no longer approved for use on chickens, so avoid it.
Permethrin spray works great and is safe to use, with no egg withdrawal time.
Mites and lice will infest your birds occasionally, unless they live indoors and never are exposed to wild birds. Ever. If you have them outside, exposure will occur at times.
Mary

 

[aart]

Welcome to BYC!

Spirochete spray

Cannot find this product...could you provide a link or at least the active ingredient?

Also, knowing your general geographical location would be most helpful.
Easy to add to your profile, then it's always there!