[moprabbit]

Just been to my local country store to see if they'd got any spray that could be used on the chickens themselves to help clear red mite and lice. They didn't have one just various dusts but one of the salesmen said he'd heard of people dipping the chickens in Poultryshield to help control mites. I've got some Poultryshield but it seems to be just for using on the coop etc. Has anyone ever used it on their chickens? Thank you. 

[Q]

Can't answer directly about poultryshield but I always put some diatomaceous earth in their dustbaths to keep the mites off the birds.
Better than making a fool of myself chasing them round.

[Marches Farmer]

Drops of ivermectin on the skin at the back of the neck works but you have to ditch the eggs for a while afterwards.

[farmers wife]

Ive had a terrible infestation. I was going to get biological control but decided too expensive.  Gave the house a big hot jet wash.  Have bought a smoke bomb doing later, spray the shield tomorrow and more diatomaceous earth after (I buy 25kg bags).  Made a bird bath of sand and diatomaceous earth they love it but I cant do the Ivermectin as the withdrawal is 7 days and I sell all my eggs.  Added vit drops to their water and added a lot more seaweed meal to their feed. Hoping that the mites will dry off after all the DE floating about.  I'll have a look at the ingredients on the shield to see if suitable.

[twizzel]

Ive had a terrible infestation. I was going to get biological control but decided too expensive.  Gave the house a big hot jet wash.  Have bought a smoke bomb doing later, spray the shield tomorrow and more diatomaceous earth after (I buy 25kg bags).  Made a bird bath of sand and diatomaceous earth they love it but I cant do the Ivermectin as the withdrawal is 7 days and I sell all my eggs.  Added vit drops to their water and added a lot more seaweed meal to their feed. Hoping that the mites will dry off after all the DE floating about.  I'll have a look at the ingredients on the shield to see if suitable.

I had a horrendous infestation a few years ago, nothing got rid of it not even several sprays of poultry shield 1 week apart and DE. Ended up burning the house down (it was a 8x6 shed !) and making a new house from scratch and creosoting every nook and cranny as we built it. Touch wood no red mite in there now.

[Marches Farmer]

Ive had a terrible infestation. I was going to get biological control but decided too expensive.  Gave the house a big hot jet wash.  Have bought a smoke bomb doing later, spray the shield tomorrow and more diatomaceous earth after (I buy 25kg bags).  Made a bird bath of sand and diatomaceous earth they love it but I cant do the Ivermectin as the withdrawal is 7 days and I sell all my eggs.  Added vit drops to their water and added a lot more seaweed meal to their feed. Hoping that the mites will dry off after all the DE floating about.  I'll have a look at the ingredients on the shield to see if suitable.

I once submerged a coop with red mite in the farm pond for three weeks.  Didn't work.  Blowtorched then jetwashed.  Didn't work.  Left it shut up for nine months through a very cold Winter.  Didn't work.  Burned it.

[Dave C]

I use Hemexsan powder, sprinkle it in the corners every time I clean them out, keeps red mite & lice under control.
You can also sprinkle it directly onto the bird if needed.

[Callia]

I use diatomaceous earth in the poultry shed every week which I just sprinkle over the floor, perches and next boxes. I havent had any mite problems luckily but would definitely use either Ivomec or Eprinex as a spot on treatment for everyone if needed as it has always sorted any problems out straight away.
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[Marches Farmer]

Every time one of our henhouses is affected it's a year when the farmer whose field is to the west (prevailing summer wind) of ours has dumped a load of muck from a big poultry concern on the field in preparation for spreading after the crop is taken.  Too much of a coincidence ....

[Celli]

When it comes to the Red Devils I don't take any chances , Ficam W in the coop and Ivermectin on the birds.

[moprabbit]

Thanks for all the replies. There's a lot of  good advice. Thank you.

[HesterF]

My vet was very reluctant to prescribe Ivermectin for mites - said it wasn't really intended for them and because the mites don't live on the bird, you should treat the environment i.e. house. In this particular instance, I needed to make sure a broody was not eaten alive whilst brooding so I think he relented and it did seem to work. On the whole though you should try and clear the mites from the house, not treat the bird. I've never had much joy with diatom - it's supposed to break the reproductive cycle but I'm a little cynical. I've just ordered some of the natural predator (see other thread) in the hope that could be a miracle!