Please help...Red mites

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Lynette

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As I am very new to keeping chickens I feel I am learning along the way.

One of my girls (Gracie) seemed to have lost some weight and didn't seem at all her self so I checked her to see if she had anything crawling in her feathers. I thought I may have seen something however couldn't be certain. I then went home feeling quite itchy and found tiny little black dust like specks on my arms etc. I have been researching through some of the links on here and I now believe I have red mites.

I am now worried sick that I have only noticed this issue and it may be a bit too late to really get on top of.

I took Gracie to the vets (Yesterday-Monday)and she said that she is underweight however seems to be in good health. I explained to her my red mite theory and she prescribed me the drops for the back of their necks. I have treated all nine hens and one cockerel with this medication. I removed all the bedding a wood chip and cleaned it as thoroughly as I could with the Smite liquid. I have sprayed the whole chicken coop and placed mite powder in before placing new bedding. I have my younger girls in a different coop but treated their coop in the same way.

When I went to see them today I did feel that they seemed quite happy and were happy to go into the coop to go to bed. However after reading some of the stories that it will be really hard to get on top of the mite problem with my chickens still living in that coop. I have brought another eco hen house to transfer my chickens into (arrives in three working days).

Can any one advice my what else I can do?

Lynette
 
They are either red mite, which are buff when hungry and red when fed, or Northern Fowl Mite. NFM live on the bird, digging into the skin to feed. They are usually around the vent, but can appear anywhere and leave large scabs on the skin. The drops sound like Frontline which is a cat and dog anti-flea treatment and not licensed for chickens. We use the spray version to control the dose more accurately as chickens haven't the tolerance to it that cats and dogs have.

If it is red mite you need to dust your birds with red mite powder before moving them. This is to get the mite off them so they are not transferred to the new coop. You should see red mite in the bedding and a wipe with a tissue over any corners or under perches will leave red streaks.

I think you are well on top of it Lynette. I visited a place a few weeks ago and saw a hen that looked so pale. Apparently she had been broody for a few days but stopped and when she came out she was that pale. I think she stopped because of red mite attack. Problem is the coop is stone built.
 
If the mites were on the bird and then transferred to you, they may well be Northern Fowl Mite, as redmite don't stay n the chickens during the day. See Poultrykeeper website http://poultrykeeper.com/external-problems/northern-fowl-mite
Also I think the drops may have been Ivermectin see http://poultrykeeper.com/poultry-medication/ivermectin-for-worms-lice-mites but I expect there is a label on the spray from the vet?
As Chris says you sound well on top of any possible infestation, and once you get the plastic coop you will have less to worry about. What kind did you choose?
 
Thank you for your advice and positive comments. I do however feel like a terrible chicken owner.

Thank fully my new chicken house came today (Eco Concepts Cotswold Chicken Coop). http://www.chickenhousesworld.co.uk/images/products/Eco%20Concepts%20Cotswold%20Chicken%20Coop_A_SP-1.jpg

I took your advice Chris and put powder onto my chickens before introducing them into their new house. I doubled checked and the drops are ivermectin. I was recommended to weigh my chickens and each a drop according to the weight of each chicken.

Now because of the issues with foxes (even though I do try to relocate them in a humane way and I can not do this with every fox). I have placed the new chicken house in a secure run however the house has taken up a lot of room. I would like them to go back into the original house. For the last three days I have cleaned the house with Smite, spray and powder. It will make it easier not having any bedding or chickens in the coop to concentrate my attention on cleaning. How long do you think it will take before I am mite free?

What are the signs that they are all gone and my chickens can return?

I am going to get my brother in law to cut down the grass plants etc but I am concerned that I will not enough. I have read about the predator mites. Do you know of anyone that has used them?

Thank you so much for your advice. I think I would have lost the will to live if it wasn't for the information on here.

Lynette
 
That looks a very nice little coop. Could you perhaps put it up on legs, or concrete blocks, if you are concerned about how much room it takes up in the run? Chickens like being able to get under their coop and have a good dig around and hang out together.
As for the other coop, there might be some doubt about whether you had any redmite anyway, and as your work has been so thorough I expect you'll have nipped it in the bud if you were afflicted. I suppose the only way to find out is to reintroduce your chickens and then a few days later, go down after dark and wipe the underside of the perches with a white tissue. If there are any mites feeding, the tissue will be stained red with their blood. As I expect you know, if there is an outbreak its important to treat the coop several times, at intervals of a few days, to catch the eggs which have hatched since the last batch were killed. The eggs seem fairly immune to whatever you are trying to use to kill the mites. But don't get too paranoid about it, so long as you keep on checking for infestation the hens will be OK.
I think the hens are really lucky to have you looking after them so well. Your Dad would be proud of you, and very relieved to know how hard you are working for his birds.
 
Thank you so much for your kind words Marigold.

I will continue with the cleaning process and keep you posted.

Luckily I am a teacher so have the school holidays to get on top of this problem (although this wasn't what I had planned for my time).
 
Day six in the cleaning process and when I stand and wait I have noticed a few tiny mites on the wood. They are a light grey colour so I don't feel that I am totally on top of them yet.

I have been using Smite, powder and spray. My neighbour has advised me to use Jeys fluid. So I have brought and applied some of that today. I have also cut all the long grass etc. down.

I do feel I have become a little obsessed by it all. I am also making sure that my clothes go straight in the washing machine and I have a shower even when I am going to the yard to ride and deal with my horse.

I went to give blood and was unable because my iron levels were really low. I was advised to go to my doctor. I do suffer from the occasional low iron levels but it has never been this low. Do you know if the mites could actually bite me?
 
I don't think mites would actually cause anaemia, Lynette, unless you slept in a really badly infested coop every night for some weeks! I used to get turned away at blood donation sessions with monotonous regularity, just like you did - so I know what effect the stress and hard work of teaching can have on you. I expect your doctor will be able to give you a prescription or advice about a suitable iron supplement. You will know if any mites do jump on to you, because they will irritate - if you aren't bitten there's no need to change everything, unless it just makes you feel better. After all, teachers have to develop immunity to nits, so maybe chicken keepers need the same tolerance of a few redmites now and then.
Be careful with the Jeyes, the fumes are very toxic, to you and especially to the birds. Are you keeping them in the plastic coop until you feel more confident that the wooden coop is clean? If you can do this, and keep the wooden coop clear of any bedding in which the mites could hide, it would be easier to break the cycle. Has the wooden coop been used for some time by your Dad? (for his chickens, I mean, of course!) and does it have a felted roof? If so, you may need to remove the felt and the supporting boards, and replace with Onduline (corrugated stuff.) as the mites will breed inextricably between layers of roof felt and there's no way to get to them, especially in an older coop that perhaps has had infestations before that might not have been tackled so energetically as you are doing. Onduline gives better ventilation than a solid roof as well

I saw this on Practical Poultry Forum today, from someone who was trying a new anti- redmite product called Ardap, in case you're interested..

'M Finally a spray that kills Redmite
Yesterday at 14:09:08 I have been fighting the redmite battle this year aswell costing me a fortune in poultry shield so I saw Ardap spray on ebay its 750ml and I think it was about £12 so I thought its worth a try anyway I got some went and collected a bunch of redmite stuck them in a coffee jar lid and sprayed them close up so you could see wetness and yes they all dropped dead my neighbours must think im insane if they were watching me as I waited 5 mins just to make sure they were not in a coma or playing dead then gave them a poke with my wooden stick nope they were dead as a door nail ignore the instructions on the can this is desperate times you are suppose to hold the can 30cm away but you have to spray right up close and make the wood wet for it to kill them ive still been using poultry shield but if I see a clump in the corner they get the Ardap treatment leanne "
 
Could try Elector Lynette. It is a biocide and very powerful stuff, but spraying the bedding (or hens accidentally) is no problem. Like any treatment mites evolve immunity. So you need to change your approach annually.
 
Most of the red mite treatments are effective for a few red mites, however in a situation where you have an infestation, an insecticide treatment is advised, there are some good treatments on the chicken vet site..

http://www.chickenvet.co.uk/shop/view/index.aspx/product/tyrant-super-me-500ml-41

Insecticides which contain pyrethroid based insecticide are really effective, such as Elector which has been mentioned and I believe Ardap. You can also use what are called "redmite bombs"

http://www.regencypoultry.com/heathcare/redmite_and_Lice/fortefog_mini_fumer.htm

Regarding your anaemia, I very much doubt that the red mite are contributing. Are you are having your Hb and ferritin levels checked to check your iron stores. Other causes of iron deficiency anaemia I presume are being investigated?
 
I have always found standard ant killer powder to be very effective as both a treatment and preventative for red mite, has the active ingredient permethrin which dries them out on contact. In fact the only sight of red mite I've had since using it has been in the one coop that I forgot to dust, it didn't spread to the other two despite the cockerel who lived there having access to both of them, no ill effects on my chickens, you simply puff it into cracks and where that isn't practical use a small paintbrush to dust in on, liberally rub it onto both the top and bottom of perches and mix into bedding, obviously if you choose to use it as with all insecticides wear a dust mask and gloves and avoid using around cats to whom it is toxic. I would second the others in saying that the red mite are unlikely to be causing your anaemia.
 
Thank you every one for your guidance. I feel very silly and extremley paranoid.

I have taken your advice and removed the roof (felt) to the coop and have left it bare until I feel I have fully removed the mites.

I have seen only the occasional grey tiny mite however that was during the day. I do plan on going to the coop during the night to see what I can find.

Thank you for all the reccomended products at least I left I have a some to fall back on if the Smite, Powder, spray and Jeys fluid does not work.
 
Well, It is day number 7 of the cleaning (de mite) mission. I asked a neighbour who keeps Pigeons to come and take a look for me and he has confirmed I still have mites. I don't want to knock my Dad's coops down (mainly for emotional issues and because it is currently situation in a old friends garden. He is almost 90 and loves going to sit and watch the chickens.) How ever I feel that I am just not getting on top of these mites. I have taken a look at the websites you have all recommended and brought some bombs.

I have re applied the powder on all the chickens in hope that the mites will not be able to bite the chickens and at some point the cycle will be broken.
 
Keep at it Lynette, and don't despair, the right product will help you get on top of the problem...
 
Thank you for your support. I will continue and see what happens after I have carried out the smoke bomb thing.
 
Well, I received the smoke bombs and carried out this procedure in both coops. I left it for several hours as recommended. Replaced the bedding in the little ones coops and of course left the big one empty.

I decided to re apply the mite powder to all chickens. I am praying that this works.
 
Hy Linette. No of course you don't need to feel like a bad chicken keeper! Mite are very difficult to spot. One tip though when cleaning- a scrubbing brush is handy because they tend to congregate in cracks, and also do not forget the roof. Mites tend to sleep en mass during the day, quite high up. Also will collect on any dry pieces of cloth or paper.
 
That's interesting Animartco; I didn't know that they slept high up. I'll have to make sure I spray all the way up to the roof when I clean the coop from now on.
Thanks for the tip. :-)17
 
Thank you for the advice Animartco.

Sadly this did not seem to work. I did have areas where the smoke could have escaped so I am planning on buying another set of smoke bombs, blocking off any possible escape route and re apply again.

Is it sad that I am now wanting the bad weather to aid with my de mite mission?
 
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