What kind of mites are these and why won’t they die?!?

[McChooky]

I use a small amount of wood ashes, dry sand and diatomaceous earth in their sun bathing areas.I also dip my birds in neem oil and dishwashing liquid with a little salt .It heals their scratches and cuts and puts a light coat of oil on their skin and feathers which deters parasites. Elector psp is my go to lice and mite killer for the coop and flock both.It gets rid of them when nothing else will.Usually once is all it takes.

 

[McChooky]

Please give us an update and let us know if you got rid of them, thanks!

 

[quinnng]

I'm currently having the same problem with chicken mites in my home. It's driving me crazy. Does anyone know if they'll die after certain amount of time? I've been feeling like they're crawling all over even though I've been keeping my distance from the chicken run.

 

[Sweeethearts_2002]

I posted about this a month and a half or so ago, but desperately need help!

I’m about to give up on having chickens and burning my coops if I can’t get this under control. Several weeks ago I noticed little reddish brown mites crawling all over my hands and arms when I would clean the chicken coop. At first, I didn’t see any on the birds (I’m down to two). We stripped the coop, the run (which is on concrete so it’s easy to sanitize…birds free range all day), and sprayed everything in permethrin. We dusted the birds in permethrin. Put permethrin powder in their dust bath. We repeated this 10 days later. They came back a couple of weeks later in full force, this time the birds were even more covered in mites.

We doused everything in permethrin again today, and this time I treated the hens with topical ivermectin as well. Tonight when I went to lock them up, I noticed three or four mites crawling on my hands just from closing their door. WHY ARE THEY STILL ALIVE?! Does the permethrin not kill immediately?

How in gods name do you get rid of these? And any idea what kind of mites I am dealing with if they are covering the coop and the birds? I was battling with mice building nests in my coop all winter, and finally have them evicted but I am certain that that is where these came from.

I cant touch any part of the chicken coop without getting them on me. I come inside, strip, and shower immediately, but I am so disgusted and feel like I’m crawling any time I go near the chickens.

I have a basement full of 8 new chicks to replace the ones we lost that I’m gonna have to get rid of because I cannot seem to get this under control

Ivermectin pour over mixed 50/50 with water spray the vent snd under each wing they'll be gone then.

 

[McChooky]

I feel you

This was my last summer. The mites crawling on me was the thing that pushed me over the edge. I bought Mite bombs ( like flea bombs). The red mites have ea life cycle like fleas, eggs, mites more eggs millions of mites millions of eggs=dead chicken. So you have to keep at it for a minimum of 2 months to be sure that you really have it under control.

I bought Baristol Animal Oil and used it to control the mites. You can wash them off but they do not die. They will be suffocated by the oil. So I oiled the chickens legs to stop them crawling up the hens. Then I also oiled the hens combs because they were there too. And I sprayed them with a liquid Citronella/Eucalyptus Horse spray.

I also oiled the water feeders and all other plastic things in the coop after washing them.

100% do not add the chicks into the mix until you have the mites under control or they will suck them dry too. My skin is crawling now!!! Yuck. I am so sorry for you.

You can check my most recent post about coop management and how to use a Flame Thrower! That has made me the happiest about this whole situation! Burn them!

Are you burning the old bedding?

 

[Lofusb]

Hello all- ive noticed that many people on this site have been posting that they have been treating their coops and chickens for mites with pyrethrins and/or ivermectin…these do not kill mites! You must use something with spinosad as the main ingredient. Elector PSP is the best product- it is very expensive, but fortunately they sell small concentrate bottles that can be reconstituted into water at a reasonable price. I had a horrible mite problem and this seems to work well. You can use it on the coop and the chickens and it usually works with 1-2 treatments.

 

[McChooky]

Hello all- ive noticed that many people on this site have been posting that they have been treating their coops and chickens for mites with pyrethrins and/or ivermectin…these do not kill mites! You must use something with spinosad as the main ingredient. Elector PSP is the best product- it is very expensive, but fortunately they sell small concentrate bottles that can be reconstituted into water at a reasonable price. I had a horrible mite problem and this seems to work well. You can use it on the coop and the chickens and it usually works with 1-2 treatments.

The Meck Vet Manual names several drugs used to treat mites in chickens. Ivermectin and it dosage is noted

 

[talkinboutchickens]

Where do the mites come from?

 

[Debbie292d]

Where do the mites come from?

They usually are brought in by wild birds, squirrels, chipmunks, etc. They can survive in tall grass and brush piles, so those who use a product to clear them from their coops and chickens, only to get them again in a few months, usually have a source that will keep them coming. We use either Permethrin or FG DE and go around the outside of our coop as we have little varments running around our yard and the chickens free range so are bound to pick them up, but they don't.

 

[Debbie292d]

Hello all- ive noticed that many people on this site have been posting that they have been treating their coops and chickens for mites with pyrethrins and/or ivermectin…

Many people on this site are posting it because it works. Many people say Elector PSP works too.

In the winter, dipping or spraying chickens isn't feasible, so that is why Permethrin powder or Ivermectin is preferred.