Sick chicks with mites that won't go!

[laurengeeves]

Thank you appps! we found the bugs as a chick randomly died..and it was that day that we first covered them I'm the powder, and I mean covered.. But when we went in there the other day about 3 days after using the powder we found more on the chicks after finding one that was really ill ( as mentioned above). All three chicks now live indoors without mum, which is sad but I'm not going to risk it.. The chickens aren't mine they are my boyfriends family, but the chicks are basically mine as I'm the one that cares for them.. Will a normal bath help them?

 

[laurengeeves]

Hi

No I'm talking aboit stuff you shake on and around the coop. It kills the lice but not harmful for chickens.

Hi Sharon, we brought a special spray that kills mites, and sprayed it in all the cracks today.. We used the spray when the bugs were first discovered, but I wasn't aware that they could hide in the cracks.. I'm going to see in the morning if the chicks still have any bugs on them..
But today we took the last chick away from mum and covered it in the powder, and had to put it with the 2 chicks that I previously took ( the one that was sick, and one that I hand reared for 5 days to keep it company when it was getting better) so there is a chick has had less treatment..
We got a large guinea pig pen that is inside with the chicks in it, should I take any precautions because some of the mites come of the chick and hide? Or do you think it will be fine as they are all treated?

Thank you so much

 

[Roodey]

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.

Most farm/livestock supply stores should carry the right stuff, I should've mentioned that. Otherwise you can order it online.

In regards to bathing the chicks you would want to avoid any commercial shampoos with Sodium Sulfates in them which most have. You're better off with just warm water, immerse the chick up to it's neck and see if the bugs come off in the water. If the bugs appear to be surviving then a light oil concentration would likely kill them. I mix my own flea sprays for animals using a mixture of oils, Eucalyptus is gentle enough to be good, at a ratio of 2ml/16oz of water. Also vegetable Glycerin can be helpful in mixing the oil and water, and can act like soap. Soy lecithin is another good ingredient that thickens.

 

[Sara K]

I had terrible mites. Had to scrub the entire pen with this organic soap. Let it dry in the sun. Then put seven dust on it. I tried DE and it just wouldn't do it. Brushed all the extra 7 dust out of the pen, leaving some in the crevices. Then the chickens were treated. Then I did this all over again in 6 days. And again in 6 days. Finally got rid of them but it was a lot of work. We had red,white and black bugs too. Sorry. I know what you are going through.

 

[drumstick diva]

I've heard more people admit DE does nothing than those that sing its praises. I think it's the placebo effect - people expect it to work so think it does. I used some years ago when they told me it was the best non chemical insecticide for plants. Horse hockey - it was a waste of time and money.

I would call a vet and ask what can be done with chicks of their age. Lice, mites etc can quickly bring a chick down. And yes, over treating with more than one or several different products can kill them also

 

[Roodey]

I've heard more people admit DE does nothing than those that sing its praises. I think it's the placebo effect...

Nope, it's a physico-sorptive effect. But in point of fact most powders fine enough will do this, so it's more likely the high priced insecticide powders that are the bull... I have seen it work on fleas, and they are about as tough as anything to kill. It's not an immediate effect though so it's still more important to isolate the bugs on the chick using water, it will tell you a lot if the louses can survive that.

 

[laurengeeves]

I inspected all 3 chicks today and I couldn't find anything,I'm going to put more powder in them in 3 days time just as a precaution..
We bathed them earlier just in warm water and on the sick on when I looked at her belly you could see dark shapes in her, which looks like her organs.. Her skin looks really see through is this normal?

Just wanted to say thank you to everyone for your advice,I really do appreciate it!