[bumpkins]

Can someone give me some advice as to how I can get rid of the mites on my poor hens?  I'm at my wits end!
The mites are an oval, yellowy creamy colour and are causing bald patches.  The hens have a dust bath and I have added Diatom which I also puffed onto the hens and into their bedding.  When this didn't help, I used Columbine Spray.  Ten days later, they still have them.  What next? Any ideas? I hate seeing them so uncomfortable and scraggy!

[Mammyshaz]

A small infestation of mites may cause a bit of irritation but it sounds like your girls have a bad infestation.
When they are infested so badly it's causing skin problems it may be best to get a good insecticide from your vet (something like ivermectin ) then follow up routine dusting with diatom in coops and on hens under the wings and vent area.

Hope you can get it sorted soon. I'm itching thinking about it. Our girls get them now and then but I don't see signs, I check weekly and a few times a year I'll see one or two and up the cleaning and disinfecting everything and powdering with diatom.  The thought of them makes me itch 
Did I say I itch just thinking about them 

[jaykay]

They sound like lice, rather than mites (yes, I'm itching now too )

You can get Frontline spray from the vets, that is effective. You need to reduce the dosage depending on the weight of the bird - for example, if it's 6 sprays for a cat, then it might be 2-3 for a chicken, depending on size.

As MS says, the environment needs treating - diatomaceous earth, Total mite spray.......

[chrismahon]

As Jaykay says, Frontline spray from the vets is a good treatment and the only one I use. Dosage is relative to  bodyweight. 1.5mL per Kg must be the maximum application which equates to 3 sprays from the smallest bottle. One spray from the larger bottles is 1.5mL and isn't controllable enough to treat a chicken. Chickens don't have the tolerance to it that cats and dogs have.


Just distribute the spray as best you can around the areas affected, parting the feathers to get to the skin. Avoid the eyes, so anything around the head needs treating using a soaked cotton bud.

[bumpkins]

Thank you so much everyone for taking the trouble to reply......I think that it is going to have to involve the vet!
Yes, I think that you're right Jaykay - it's lice rather than mites.
Thanks again.  Next time I post, I hope to have itch free chooks!

[AndynJ]

Get rid of your hens   

No, really good tips by others may also try ash off your fire, under bedding and on the floor, you could try putting it on the birds then telling us if it works
Oh forgot to say let the ashes go cold before you use them 

[Mammyshaz]

They sound like lice, rather than mites (yes, I'm itching now too )

Oh yes, sorry. Definitely LiCE not mites    tired, man-flu head last night