Broody & Nest box full of Red Mite

[Jaqs]

Hi,can anyone help please I have 2 Black silkie hens sitting on eggs, when I went to take them off yesterday 1 of them had left her eggs, the eggs were cold so i put her back in with the others and put the eggs in the incubator (eggs due in 4 days). This morning I was going to swap the nest box over (better box) to the remaining broody only to find it full of mite Both hens were sitting in the same indoor pen just divided in half by a wooden divider. Is it safe to treat the other broody for mite and how can I stop the mite going on the newly hatched chicks

 

[Chuck]

Red mite in a nest box where a broody is sitting is a very serious problem. Firstly the broodies can die or become so weak sitting on the eggs as the mite will be at them day and night.
The chicks are going to be at risk. If you move the hen and chicks to a clean pen, there will be a few mites transferred with the birds but they will quickly build up.
You need to treat the mites straight away.

 

[daniellesdogs]

i found millions of red mite in my broodies box after chicks hatched so iv had to move her. iv done her with some powders but worried about doing the babies at the time now the older and stronger iv a spot on so il do that but sprayed the sheds with jays and house hold flea spray leaving it empty till got rid of mites completly
my latest broody in duck house with the ducks hopefully that keeps her safe

 

[Jaqs]

Thanks for info. The Silkie who had the red mite has been returned to the pen I have cleaned the silkies out steamed the shed sprayed with red mite killer & dusted all the birds in that pen. The area were they are sitting I have also cleaned out & sprayed but I have not dusted the remaining broody just changed her nest material & put a layer of dust in the bottom of nest box hope this will control them untill chicks are older

 

[Jaqs]

Hi the silkie who was sitting in the next pen hatched her eggs 5 lovely welsummer chicks and so far no more signs of red mite. The other eggs in the inco hatched a day late (after being stone cold ) 4 out of 5 one dead in shell I think it never grew after being cold I will be giving the pens a good steam clean & leaving red mite powder in over winter this year

 

[E3lx]

Hi,
When you clean her ad her young ones out, do remember to put a layer of powder on the floor of the nestbox and into the cracks!

 

[Jaqs]

Hi the chicks are now 2 weeks old and I cant see any signs of red mite I think I was lucky and just caught it in time. Next year I will dust every broody pen & nestbox before sitting them