Topic of the Week - Lice and Mites - Prevention and Treatments

[Linda V]

If you do a search online under any product at all...you should find the website that sells it or details about it, side affects, and how to use it...at least that's my back-up plan. Let us know if you found the info. on it on the internet!

 

[casportpony]

@Raggedyroad , how's you rooster doing?

 

[traco]

I am still battling those horrible brown mites. The little beggars are back after 2 months mite free. At least I thought we were. In the beginning (late spring) I sprayed with permethrin and then again 2 weeks later and all the chickens vents as well. 6 weeks later we noticed them again so we purchased predatory mites. That seems to be working quite well until the cold wet weather hit. We are knee deep in the little monsters again.

I want to put Ivermectin on my roosters but have no idea how much. I had a chart for this on my old computer that pooped out on me a couple months ago and now I can't access all of valuable chicken information I had saved. Some of the roosters will be culled once they are full grown for the stew pot though. Will they be safe to eat?

Also, has anyone ever used a product called elector? At least I think that's what the name is. It's applied in the same manner as Permethrin and is supposed to work like gangbusters on mites and only one application is needed. It's expensive but if it will do the job once and for all then I'm in.

 

[traco]

I've been using Elector since the end of July, 5 times, proper dosage. Still battling red mites. Dosed last time 4 days ago, going to dose again Friday. Hoping this will get the new mites hatched. If they come back again after that, I am going to use another product. Elector is an expensive product, especially with the exchange rate and shipping to Canada

So "one dose only" to get rid of them ... did not happen for me.

 

[casportpony]

I've been using Elector since the end of July, 5 times, proper dosage. Still battling red mites. Dosed last time 4 days ago, going to dose again Friday. Hoping this will get the new mites hatched. If they come back again after that, I am going to use another product. Elector is an expensive product, especially with the exchange rate and shipping to Canada

So "one dose only" to get rid of them ... did not happen for me.

I think I might want to send an email to the mfg. Maybe they can offer some advice, or give you a refund?

 

[Raggedyroad]

@Raggedyroad , how's you rooster doing?

He passed away a couple of days ago. He started doing better and then took a turn and went down hill fast. Broke my heart.

 

[Raggedyroad]

These stupid mites make me feel like such a failure. I've lost my 3 top favorites this summer.

I said brown mites in my previous post but I meant to say red.

I need to treat the coop again. I have permethrine to spray with but it's cold and rainy here now and I worry about a wet coop. What are the best dry treatments that are safe alternatives? Can they be sprinkled on the dirt floor, roosts and nest boxes along with the chickens? How young is too young to be treated? I have birds ranging from 1 week to adult and they are all housed together.

Oh and before anyone mentions DE, don't! That stuff does not work.

Will any remaining mites die off once the hard freeze hits? It will suck if spring comes only to continue this horrible battle.

I swear if we owned the property I would burn the coop and rebuild. I think part of the problem is the dead space between the walls. It provides insulation but also a safe haven for those nightmare pests to hide.

 

[Folly's place]

So sorry that you are having this miserable problem. Cold or not, spray the coop walls, etc, with permethrin spray. It will dry, as long as it's not pouring rain all day. The permethrin powder works fine on the floor before adding the new bedding, but not on the walls.
I haven't used spinosad, and plan to avoid it until someday when the permethrin fails. Too much of too many products will only develop resistance to more things faster, not good.
Your rooster may have had a major health problem and then was overwhelmed by the mites; sometimes, sadly, you just can't save everyone.
I follow directions on the label and don't overtreat. Your wild bird invaders (and we all have them!) may be bringing in more mites who just haven't died yet.
All the best, Mary

 

[Raggedyroad]

So sorry that you are having this miserable problem. Cold or not, spray the coop walls, etc, with permethrin spray. It will dry, as long as it's not pouring rain all day. The permethrin powder works fine on the floor before adding the new bedding, but not on the walls.
I haven't used spinosad, and plan to avoid it until someday when the permethrin fails. Too much of too many products will only develop resistance to more things faster, not good.
Your rooster may have had a major health problem and then was overwhelmed by the mites; sometimes, sadly, you just can't save everyone.
I follow directions on the label and don't overtreat. Your wild bird invaders (and we all have them!) may be bringing in more mites who just haven't died yet.
All the best, Mary

Thank you Mary, my main concern with the spray or powder being on the floor is them scratching around eating left over feed that they find. Especially the 11 day old chicks. Is this not a problem? Is there a specific dry product brand you would use on the floor?

When you say don't over treat do you mean not to saturate to heavily when I spray or the frequency? And would you use powder or spray on the birds? Also, the product says not to spray again for 14 days. Should I spray again at that point. They are impossible to see until the infestation is high again.

 

[kurka0]

Hello everyone!
I come here with a bunch of chemicals to know your opinion and experiences =)

Background story: Apparently here we really don't care about the toxicity of the bast majority of products we use (sadly). That being said, I ended up with three different treatment for mites (conditions: 30 °C all year round, humidity always above 70%)

Treatment #1
Gallonil
Fipronil 1.25 mg
Excipients q.s.ad. 1 mL
I already read that it is not recommended. Long term toxicity. It stays in the animal for way to long. Not safe to consume eggs or meat with fipronil. Won't use it anymore.

Treatment #2
Ultrametrin 600
Cypermethrin 100 mg
Ethion 400 mg
Piperonyl butoxide 100 mg
Excipients q.s. ad 1 mL.
Nowhere in the instructions mentions its uses on poultry. And as for the components I believe I will get rid effectively from the mites and the chickens..

Treatment #3
Tabernil Spray
Tetramethrine 0.175%
0.910% piperonyl butoxide
Perfume, solvent and propellant qs
I have use this on my chickens. I'm still not sure about anything in this product.

And for the coop, run and surroundings:
Arrivo 6 ec
Pyrethroid
Cypermethrin
Don’t know the concentrations
Really effective, no one left alive. Nor mites, nor ants, nor cockroaches, not a single insect made it through. Won't use this in the garden, never ever. I would end up killing all the bees around.

Every single comment is highly appreciated!