AUSTRALIAN POULTRY FORUM™

This is our first time we have had this so I wanted to ask what are the best ways to get rid of them and keep them away???

I clean out there pen every second day, I also scrubbed it clean but I'm wanting to know what is the best product to buy to remove them from my girls???

I just Brough some Pestene and was going to dust then in the morning, is that stuff any good???

Yes, pestine powder is good. It works as a preventative measure too, so dust your chooks regularly. We do and have not had any mite/lice problems.

Pestene is good if dusted on a regular basis. Don't forget to dust them under their wings and around their vent areas, the coop and nesting boxes will also need to be dusted as mites lurk there especially at night, which is a good time to dust chooks as the mites are out.

If the infestation is severe then Ivermectin may be needed and the coop and nesting boxes etc thoroughly cleaned out with something stronger.

Mites can cause anaemia in chookies

Thank you soo much, if I can't get rid of them and need Ivermectin where would I get that? Stock feed/vets/online???

Also how quickly dose the Pestene work??

The Pestene will work within 24 hrs but the big problem with mites is environmental contamination ie some species hide in cracks in the timber etc so treating the environment is critical for success.

Remove bedding from floor/nests; treat perches, the walls & roof with an environmental insecticide. Pestene, being a dry powder, may not be suitable for all areas and you may need to use a liquid that can be sprayed over the walls/perches etc. Products such as Coopex or Cislin are good examples. Pay particular attention to corners or other dark areas where mites may hide.

PP has made some very good comments about treating the birds themselves. Again, remember that they hate the light so treating under the wings etc is important. Do not use Coopex or Cislin on the birds themselves & follow the directions on the packet.

By the way Kylie, are you sure they are mites or are they lice? Lice are elongated and larger than the round-bodied mites. Lice have 3 prs of legs; mites have 4 prs( you will need magnification to see this);

All lice live their entire life-cycle on the chicken so environmental spraying is not important. Some mites live off the chicken during the day and come out to feed on the birds at night. Pestene will treat both mites & lice on the birds.

Hope this helps

Thanks for this info parvo

White Washing the birds pen can help as well

viewtopic.php?f=43&t=31941&start=0

this link is abt lime and white washing