Thoughts/?'s about mites...

[AllenK RGV]

I am sure I did an overkill soaking. I did have a dry spring at the time and soaked it all crazy mixed per the surface treatment instructions. There was no other moisture available for the mites. The chicken did all come through it fine and so did we as those ikky things no longer crawl on us. I imagine that if you live somewhere with higher rainfall totals than me you might need a modified approach. I would probably retreat after any rainfall dries out then if the problem was that persistent. 3 years into our chicken keeping here and it was our first time experiencing this issue.

 

[Colberon]

I am sure I did an overkill soaking. I did have a dry spring at the time and soaked it all crazy mixed per the surface treatment instructions. There was no other moisture available for the mites. The chicken did all come through it fine and so did we as those ikky things no longer crawl on us. I imagine that if you live somewhere with higher rainfall totals than me you might need a modified approach. I would probably retreat after any rainfall dries out then if the problem was that persistent. 3 years into our chicken keeping here and it was our first time experiencing this issue.

We live in Northern Maine and we have actually been experiencing a drought and much higher than normal temps this summer. I will continue to monitor and try to get this problem resolved! I think I'm going to bathe them in dog flee and tick shampoo tomorrow with an oatmeal base that says it soothes the skin. I see the has Permethrin in it, thought if I soaked them in that it might get right down to the feather shaft and areas I may be missing.

 

[cmom]

Out of curiosity, what flea shampoo did you use? I used flea shampoo on some birds. It had Pyrethrins 0.075%. It may have helped some but the birds still had some mites on them. Every over-the-counter (OTC) treatment of head lice contains either pyrethrins (Rid or Triple X) or permethrin (Nix). They are effective treatment. They only kill live pests, not the pests eggs.

 

[cmom]

If you over use the permethrin as with most any insecticide, the mites can become resistant to it. I would stick with once a week for awhile. You can also use Elector PSP. It is expensive and with mites according to their fact sheet probably need to do repeat applications. They also suggest to rotate with another insecticide. Originally I mixed the permethrin a little heavy. I closed the coops up so it could dry before I let the birds back in. I didn't have any chicks so not sure about them. I do use pine shavings in my coops. I like the wand on the sprayer which makes it easier to get the hard to reach areas. I should have sprayed yesterday be we had rain all day. Hopefully today will be better but it's supposed to be a rainy day today too. I did use some poultry dust and sprinkled it around and in the nest boxes. Good luck...

This includes mites.

 

[cmom]

I did a little research on chicks and the recommendation for treating chicks was poultry dust being careful not to get it in their face.

 

[Colberon]

I did a little research on chicks and the recommendation for treating chicks was poultry dust being careful not to get it in their face.

Thank you for taking the time to look into this for me, I certainly appreciate it! It was cool and rainy here today, therefore I'm going to baths tomorrow.

 

[Colberon]

If you over use the permethrin as with most any insecticide, the mites can become resistant to it. I would stick with once a week for awhile. You can also use Elector PSP. It is expensive and with mites according to their fact sheet probably need to do repeat applications. They also suggest to rotate with another insecticide. Originally I mixed the permethrin a little heavy. I closed the coops up so it could dry before I let the birds back in. I didn't have any chicks so not sure about them. I do use pine shavings in my coops. I like the wand on the sprayer which makes it easier to get the hard to reach areas. I should have sprayed yesterday be we had rain all day. Hopefully today will be better but it's supposed to be a rainy day today too. I did use some poultry dust and sprinkled it around and in the nest boxes. Good luck...

This includes mites.
View attachment 2299608

We have two coops that are only 4x4 each, therefore not too difficult to spray, I purchase a high quality spray bottle that shoots really well when I purchase the Permethrin, but I can see how it would be handy with larger coops.

 

[Colberon]

Out of curiosity, what flea shampoo did you use? I used flea shampoo on some birds. It had Pyrethrins 0.075%. It may have helped some but the birds still had some mites on them. Every over-the-counter (OTC) treatment of head lice contains either pyrethrins (Rid or Triple X) or permethrin (Nix). They are effective treatment. They only kill live pests, not the pests eggs.

I haven’t used it yet, I had planned on using it today, but it was cooler and rainy here, therefore, plan to use it tomorrow. I purchased the one with oatmeal in it as it said it would be soothing to the skin.

 

[cmom]

I have never used anything with phenothrin. I did a little research and as far as mites, was mange mites. Please post how it worked. Just curious...

 

[BigFuzzball]

In the middle of a mite battle here (Leicestershire, England), had one hen quite poorly and we've had to isolate her into a totally mite free 'ark' which was stored in pieces so had to be rebuilt for her, but she's looking 'pinker' (comb) and we're winning the diarrhea battle and she's eating more thank goodness. Have today sprayed (soaked) the coops again, third time, complete bedding change, sprayed all over the coop outsides and undersides too until the stuff was running down the panels.
I also dusted the inside completely, both dust-baths have liberal additions of DE, and have sprayed the girls under wings, back of necks and chests specially.
Tonight under torchlight we found one coop 'seemed' mite free and the other had a mere couple of dozen (live but very sluggish) mites so with another spraying planned within 48hrs we just might be winning..........