White Mite Infestation - Please Help 😭

[sorenheart]

I agree that I would not let your guy spray your coop with anything but permethrin or Elector PSP ( with spinosad.) Other insecticides can be toxic to your chickens. Post any pictures of the bugs you are seeing.

I did a permethrin dip + ivermectin pour on yesterday morning (sorry I’m just now seeing this!). I think it worked, but I still saw a few crawling around a couple hours afterwards. This is what I saw on most of my black birds

 

[sorenheart]

X3 Make sure you know what the pest guy is using in the coop.

How have you been treating the Sticktight Fleas? This article may help with those too. https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...tight-fleas-in-poultry-with-permethrin.74325/

I'm sorry that you're dealing with this. While Poultry Mites cannot survive on humans, they can get on you and even cause irritation.
@rosemarythyme wrote about them getting on people in this post, you may find this of help too.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/mites-in-the-coop-and-house.1546417/post-26109086

Thank you! I’ve heard stories of bird mites getting in the house and being super hard to get rid of, biting humans, pets, etc., so that makes me feel a lot better! I’ll check those links out. For the sticktight fleas, we’ve just been putting Vaseline on the ones we see - usually about every other night. That + the ground being sprayed helps keep them manageable

 

[hal9000jf]

My flock and I are currently dealing with a minor sticktight flea problem, so I went out to check one of my roosters this evening, and the back of his head was COVERED in these crawling white mites. I checked one of my other birds and saw one on her as well, but she probably had more. I’m currently on the verge of a panic attack because soon after I started finding them on ME - on my clothing and my skin . I tossed my shirt in the garbage and took a hot shower, but I don’t even want to go near my chickens anymore. It seems like they spread very quickly. My pest control guy is supposed to come spray the yard, coop, and run tomorrow for the fleas. What can I do for the mites? Any one and done solutions? I heard some people use frontline or revolution on their chickens. I’m happy to do that if it’s a guaranteed fix lol. My chickens are solely pets, so permanent egg withdrawal is not an issue. Any tips are appreciated!! Currently trying not to cry about this hah

My flock and I are currently dealing with a minor sticktight flea problem, so I went out to check one of my roosters this evening, and the back of his head was COVERED in these crawling white mites. I checked one of my other birds and saw one on her as well, but she probably had more. I’m currently on the verge of a panic attack because soon after I started finding them on ME - on my clothing and my skin . I tossed my shirt in the garbage and took a hot shower, but I don’t even want to go near my chickens anymore. It seems like they spread very quickly. My pest control guy is supposed to come spray the yard, coop, and run tomorrow for the fleas. What can I do for the mites? Any one and done solutions? I heard some people use frontline or revolution on their chickens. I’m happy to do that if it’s a guaranteed fix lol. My chickens are solely pets, so permanent egg withdrawal is not an issue. Any tips are appreciated!! Currently trying not to cry about this haha

Have you considered a bath in a dog shampoo for fleas and treating the run with a liberal dusting of diatomatious earth?

 

[birdlady11]

If you don't have permethrin and want an emergency treatment for your birds, I can strongly suggest using a Dawn dish soap bath for your chickens. It is effective but nontoxic. Wildlife rehabbers like myself have been using Dawn for everything from fleas to mites on everything from infested baby squirrels to purple martins to vultures with excellent results. Wet the animal down completely. Then soap them up with Dawn dish soap and most importantly let the Dawn sit there FOR AT LEAST TWO MINUTES. This will suffocate and kill all those little creepy crawly things on the animal.

Larger birds are hard to get completely wet and scrubbed because of feathers so use a container large enough for the bird to stand in comfortably and fill it with warm (not hot) water and lots of Dawn dish soap. Fill so that the water covers up over the bird's back. DO NOT dip the bird's head in the water - rather use a washcloth to gently wet the head with soapy water. DO NOT get the soap in the eyes. Swish the water all around and through the feathers (wings and tail included) and let your bird stand in the soapy water for at least two minutes. Rinse thoroughly with warm water.

Dawn works equally well on humans to kill any mites or lice that find their way onto you. Over the years as a wildlife rehabber, I've taken more Dawn dish soap showers then I care to remember after receiving wild birds covered in mites who proceeded to march by the hundreds up my arms as I gave the bird initial care. I will admit that it's very difficult not to freak out as you see and feel those mites racing up your arms and heading up, up, up and into your hair as you race to the shower, Dawn bottle in hand! But do understand that most mites are species specific and are NOT interested in you as a food source. You're just something they are climbing on in their search for a nice tasty bird or feather.