UPDATE ****Red Mites !!! See last post for update

[mzfancichicks]

I saw mites on my 5 week old chicks ( I have 12). They are my first in a brand new coop. I got them the same weekend that we finished the coop. I have put DE and pine shavings in their pen and sprinkled DE on the food because I read it was very good to use. But this evening I found mites on them so I put DE on them as well (I put a little in my hand and rubbed it on their back and under their wings). But now I read DE doesn't kill mites, I have to use Sevin Dust 5%. I have some of that but I don't know if I can use this on them now and the pen since I just put DE on them.

Can someone let me know if this is all right to do or do I need to wait. If I need to wait - how long?

Thank you for your help.

 

[threehorses]

DE doesn't treat mites. It's used to help prevent. And mites spend just part of their time on the bird feeding, the rest of it in the premises.

For an infestation (rather than control/prevention) you must treat the birds and the premises, paying most careful attention to the cracks in the wood around the nesting boxes, coops, etc.

The safest means of doing this is poultry dust as it's a synthesized version of a natural plant insecticide that used to be made from grinding flowers. It's quite effective.

You'll dust the babies with that. You'll want to treat the premises, even the bedding. Push the bedding aside - dust the floor - replace the bedding - sprinkle the bedding - stir the bedding.

Make a white-wash of the permethrin "poultry dust" and paint the wood in the coop. It can be and should be thin so that it gets into the cracks and crevicecs which is where mites lay their eggs and rest while not feeding.

Don't use sevin dust unless you just use it for the under-the-bedding.

If you can do this tomorrow, please do. You can use this with the DE. Then redo the babies in 7 days. And again in 7 days. Then use the DE in their dust baths instead.

Be sure since there are mites on them to boost their nutrition to avoid anemia. Make good and sure that they're all eating and drinking. Personally, I'd give them all Enfamil baby vitamins (Polyvisol non-iron formula, that formula apparently being sold in CVS pharmacies). Two drops on the side of the beak daily so that they swallow it. Then taper off the next week. YOu should and could also give them a wet mash in the morning for a week and a half of plain yogurt mixed in water and used to wet their crumbles slightly. Add a little boiled and mashed egg yolk (freeze the part you don't use for later use) to help give them richness of nutrition. That should help them through this stress.

Please let us know how else we can help! Good eye!

 

[posey]

I just wanted to encourage you to hold on. I know that someone with more experience will get to you shortly. It sounds like you have already done some good things to help your chicks.

 

[mzfancichicks]

Thank you, I will print this off so I can follow it. The feed store should have some "poultry dust". Is there a name or just ask for poultry dust?

 

[mzfancichicks]

I needed to paint anyway. I bought a shed and turned it into a coop. So it needs painted anyway.

 

[threehorses]

Quote:
Oddly, or maybe not so oddly, it's called "Poultry Dust".

But you can ask for permethrin poultry dust if you don't see it.

I need to paint mine, too. I had been putting it off. /blush

 

[threehorses]

Quote:
If you actually paint, make sure to let a lot of it get in the cracks. That way if you treat in the future, it'll be easier because there will be less cracks to paint.

 

[posey]

Way to go Nathalie you were answering while I was replying and hoping for an experienced poster to reply.

 

[mzfancichicks]

Right now I have the babies in a semi circle pen that we cut out of tin. It's in the corner of the coop. Beside them is my older ones someone brought me (in their own pen) that are 3 month old silkies. They seem to be doing fine.

I'm wondering if this is why I lost one of the little ones. I can't figure out what I did wrong. I just found it day before yesterday. Can the mites have done that?

I thought I was doing so good with cleaning the pens completely out once a week and adding pine shavings daily and DE. Clean water every day, grit, food, treats. I'm just at a loss.

Thank you for your help.

 

[threehorses]

Quote:
Unfortunately experienced! I bought a bird off of eggbid once. The fault of the individual (not the site) sent me a very mite covered bird, and I had to learn fast. A few wild birds also taught me the lessons of mites.

Funny - I saw your reply in the email, Posey, but it wasn't here yet! I kept looking for it.