I'd like to emphasize that I've had chickens for roughly fifteen years. This is the first time I've been unable to eradicate mites. I'm not sure what species I'm dealing with, but I know that pour-on Ivermectin, repeatitive Permethrin spray applications, coop deep-cleans, livestock dust, and 24/7 access to fresh dirt haven't done a thing! This started in late spring and gradually worsened as we moved into summer. They look (and probably feel) awful. No lifted scales, but their feather quality is crap and their skin is so red and chewed looking. They preen constantly. Never seen anything in the coop or on the birds, morning or evening.
Has anyone had notable success with natural mite remedies / control methods? I.E., food-grade DE, essential oil sprays, herbs? (I know the risks of DE, but arguably *all* dust is bad for lungs, so I make an effort to provide good ventilation.) Lisa Steele (Fresh Eggs Daily) has several articles on the aforementioned methods, but I was wondering how effective they are when you already have a established problem.
Has anyone had notable success with natural mite remedies / control methods? I.E., food-grade DE, essential oil sprays, herbs? (I know the risks of DE, but arguably *all* dust is bad for lungs, so I make an effort to provide good ventilation.) Lisa Steele (Fresh Eggs Daily) has several articles on the aforementioned methods, but I was wondering how effective they are when you already have a established problem.