Washingtonians Come Together! Washington Peeps

[rosemarythyme]

I'm so bummed, I just checked a hen while closing up the coops and we have mites Anyone have a favorite treatment/prevention plan that works for semi free-ranging chickens in mobile coops out in a field?

How many chickens do you have to treat and can you ID the type of mite (northern fowl, which live on the chickens all day vs red mites, which live in the coop)?

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/my-chicken-has-mites-now-what.1273674/page-2#post-20483008

 

[Bonkerelli]

I'm so bummed, I just checked a hen while closing up the coops and we have mites Anyone have a favorite treatment/prevention plan that works for semi free-ranging chickens in mobile coops out in a field?

DE (diatomaceous earth) helps. Sprinkle where they sleep and dust bath. Or dust the birds with it. Before you do that, want to clean out the coop and scrub it down.

 

[Cluckatar]

We previously thought we were dealing with poultry lice, but today my daughter felt we were looking at mites. Several very small brown bugs near the vent area. The flock is 20 laying hens plus roosters in three separate groups with their own coops and fenced areas, plus a coop of 8 week old chicks in their own run inside the main flock area. I say separate, but I’m moving at least one hen who has hopped the fence daily. It’s a new set up a month ago and they don’t all love the new spot.

 

[Hinotori]

Seven Dust is what's normally used.

 

[rosemarythyme]

We previously thought we were dealing with poultry lice, but today my daughter felt we were looking at mites. Several very small brown bugs near the vent area. The flock is 20 laying hens plus roosters in three separate groups with their own coops and fenced areas, plus a coop of 8 week old chicks in their own run inside the main flock area. I say separate, but I’m moving at least one hen who has hopped the fence daily. It’s a new set up a month ago and they don’t all love the new spot.

Sounds like NFM then. How tame are the birds? If they can be easily handled, I'd grab each one and dust them with permethrin powder and plan on repeating it in about a week, as permethrin doesn't kill the eggs. If not, get some help and do it at night when they're easier to nab.

 

[Cluckatar]

I have the Martin's pen and poultry spray, same ingredient. I've treaded them once in December, but it's a pretty awful job. I'm about to head out and do that now. The labeling says treat once a month, but I'm not interested in keeping them on a monthly dose of this stuff. Is it safe to treat two weeks in a row? I'm worried that the field is going to recontaminate them routinely because of the wild bird population, etc.

 

[pennyJo1960]

Have to agree look where they dust bathe lay some there makes it bit easier also .. I would treat at night. I tend use dea about every two months on floor and tables lightly.
Just as a deterent.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I have the Martin's pen and poultry spray, same ingredient. I've treaded them once in December, but it's a pretty awful job. I'm about to head out and do that now. The labeling says treat once a month, but I'm not interested in keeping them on a monthly dose of this stuff. Is it safe to treat two weeks in a row? I'm worried that the field is going to recontaminate them routinely because of the wild bird population, etc.

Yes you can treat them 2 weeks in a row. They probably will pick up more mites from wild birds if wild birds are frequenting the area, but personally I'd only treat as needed, which just means you'll need to keep an eye out for mites in the flock.

 

[pennyJo1960]

Wild birds can carry Mareks if there is a way to deter them I would

 

[pennyJo1960]

Sorry I was so short there .. Beautiful day here. Heat wave 55 here ...
Good grief go through the banty in their tractor for the first time.