AUSTRALIAN POULTRY FORUM™

Hi! I just searched the forum for info on "mites" but not much came up, so I thought I'd ask via a new post - what is the best way to rid chickens & their environment of mites???

My husband just turned our pekin rooster upside down, and he had heaps of mites crawling around his back end - the chicken's back end, that is, not my husband's. We are both scratching now (probably just from vivid imaginations!!).

Our coop has an upstairs with nest boxes and a slatted roosting area, and the floor is covered with wood shavings. The chickens are shut in there at night, then free range most of the day. I do have a packet of Coopex in the shed - is this suitable? What do you put on the chickens themselves, and what about hens sitting on eggs?

Thanks!

Deb

Hi Deb, Yes coopex should be fine. Don't use it in the powder form, mix it as a soluble. You will need to spray the shelter area and pay special attention to Boxes and Perches (anything wood) and spray the ground in the shelter. You will need to treat the birds themselves but not with coopex, you can use a Mite Powder or liquid spray available from most pet shops or Produce stores. We use "Maldison 50" as it's an all in one, used on the Pens & Birds and we find it excellent as it has a long residual, especially on the birds.


Thanks
Peacocks Australia

Thanks PA. Do you spray or dip the chickens?

Is it okay to use on egg-laying hens (we eat the eggs)?

I have a hen that I am going to put eggs under tomorrow - should I treat her first or leave her until after the chickens hatch?

Hi Debbie

Mites prefer timber, particularly rough sawn where they can hide in cracks. I use camphor laurel branches for perches which is supposed to repel them. Also a regular liming of the shed helps to keep them away or lime washing the inside of the shed mght be an option.

Hi Debbie, we dip all our birds but not broody hens, we use a spray bottle for broody hens and gently lift the feathers back to make sure it gets down to the skin. Pay special attention to the Vent & Tail areas & under the wings. The only withholding period is for the consumption of the bird so should be fine to eat the eggs. Mite season is from late spring to early summer, so we spray & Dip every year at the start of spring.



Thanks
Peacocks Australia

Thanks everybody for your advice. I think at this stage I will use Maldison as I have some handy in the cupboard.

I can't do much about changing perches, as our coop has slatted flooring fitted in, so I will have to spray with something.

I thought the reason that chickens had dust baths was to control mites!!!!! Mine are always in the dirt!

Thanks again.

Deb

Debbie, Mites spread when the birds roost so that’s the area to focus on Use Maldison 50 and liberally spray everything in the shelter/roost including Floor, Roof, Sides, Perches, Boxes, under feeders ect..... Everything! One application should eradicate them but you should then do this every year as part of routine.

Good luck

Thanks
Peacocks Australia

Did mine today, they weren't happy but they will be better off. Thanks for starting the topic debbie, i had forgoten about the little mites.




Jeff

Hi Jeff and everyone.

I did all of mine yesterday, after taking out 4 wheelbarrow-loads of wood shavings from the floor area - amazing, after being in the coop for almost 3 months these wood shavings had no smell, and droppings were barely noticeable! It seemed a shame to take them out and replace them, but I figured there would be colonies of mites hiding down there during the day. I sprayed the coop until everything was soaked.

I thought I might have poisoned some of the pekins during dipping, as they stood around looking very miserable all morning, but once they dried off they seemed a bit happier, and today are all looking normal again.

I gave the two broody hens a light spray, but wasn't game to assault them too heavily in case I scared them off their nests. They looked too peaceful to disturb. They are in a separate enclosure to the others, so I figure I'll dip them after the chicks hatch, and throw all of their bedding away.

I also dipped guinea pigs and rabbits while I had the Maldison mixed up - I doubt that there is a mite within a kilometre of our place now!!

Thanks for the pointers, PA. Now I know what to do I'll get in earlier next year, before they take hold and before I have any setting hens to worry about.