Sick chicks with mites that won't go!

[laurengeeves]

2 week old chicks have small bugs on them, I've only ever seen 1 bug at a time..
We treated them and the mother with mite and lice powder 4 days ago, but after inspection today they are still there?

One chick was really ill this morning but has thankfully recovered..we have covered them in the powder 3 times today and they don't seem to be going?

The chicks live outside in separate pen with the mum but all three of her chick have been taken away as we are thinking that she is infested
The bugs I've seen are clear/ white.. Red.. And black?
Some advice would be great! Thanks

 

[sourland]

You may need to spray all crevices of the pen. Mites like to hang out in the cracks and crevices and then come out at night to feast.

 

[laurengeeves]

The chicks are currently inside with me, they have been all day.. The powder isn't working and I've sprayed there home down with the special spray that I brought..

 

[laurengeeves]

can anyone tell me exactly what this is so I can get a different treatment?

 

[Roodey]

2 week old chicks have small bugs on them, I've only ever seen 1 bug at a time..
We treated them and the mother with mite and lice powder 4 days ago, but after inspection today they are still there?
The chicks live outside in separate pen with the mum but all three of her chick have been taken away as we are thinking that she is infested
The bugs I've seen are clear/ white.. Red.. And black?
Some advice would be great! Thanks

Diatomaceous earth is a noteworthy delouser. Chickens can eat it, chicks might peck a bit too. You can also use it topically and around their area. The key with any powder is to get it on the bugs, it dries them out and kills them. So if you can't get it in direct contact with the bugs on the chicks you're going to have to bath them clean first, then apply the diatomaceous earth (would be my choice over the powder).

 

[laurengeeves]

Thank you

 

[Sharon Bee]

Make sure it is the food grade type!! It has to be edible or it will be toxic to the chicks. I have been trying to find this around our area but can't find it. Maybe it will be at a bigger hardware store.

 

[laurengeeves]

What do you mean by food grade type? The powder is placed on the chicks if that helps?

 

[appps]

That looks like a louse to me. The chicks are only small so it won't take long for these to affect their health.

I know with human lice they are starting to become immune to the chemicals in flea shampoos and you often have to try more than one active ingredient in them to kill them. I don't see why the same wouldn't apply to chicken lice and the chemicals we use on their lice. If one chemical hasn't worked at all the. I'd try another. Just be carful you don't overload the little chicks systems though by doing too close together.

I'm afraid I'm on the fence withe the whole DE thing but from what I've read it's best as a preventative but is not supposed to be a treatment for a full blown infestation. Also be aware its not to be inhaled which may be tricky for something as small as a two week old chick.

Personally, mainly because I've seen how lice can affect a full grown chickens health I'd buy some fido's dog spray and mix it up per the instructions for birds on the bottle and give them all a bath. Make sure you dry them off well after and don't leave the chicks wet.

You also need to remove all the bedding in and spay their nesting area too. Make sure it is well ventilated because they are very small to be breathing in fumes.

You will need to retreat in 10 days because you are killing live lice but existing eggs will still hatch so you need to retreat to get those new lice before they are old enough to lay more eggs.

Good luck!!

 

[Sharon Bee]

No I'm talking about stuff you shake on and around the coop. It kills the lice but not harmful for chickens. DE. D. Earth it's called.