Post by tsyork on Aug 31, 2008 15:12:57 GMT -5
Need help with mite problem!!!!!!!!
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Sometimes I can be rather slow (thinking wise). A couple of days ago I went into the coop to gather eggs, which is a daily task for me. Once I gather the eggs, I always go straightway to the barn to feed my three steers. Well, all of a sudden two days ago I felt like something was crawling all over me once I left the coop. It drove me to the point I came in and took a shower after feeding the steers. Well it happened again yesterday, some scenario. Today, while on my way to church, the lightbulb came on; I said I bet it's mites. Well after church and lunch I went out to gather the eggs and once again I felt like I had bugs crawling all over me. I picked up one of my hens and looked at her vent and sure enough there was tiny bugs crawling on her, so I am assuming it is mites.
HOW DO I GET RID OF THESE THINGS? Please don't tell me I have to kill off my flock and start over, as these hens have just begun to lay. My plans are to completely clean and sweep out the coop tomorrow. Then I will apply a strong contrated spray of Clorox. Once it dries I will put down and thick layer of DE. Would this be the appropriate treatment, or do I need to go another way on this. I can't keep going into the coop and having to shower everytime.
I run a very clean operation, so I am quite at a loss as to how this happened. I prefer to take a more organic approach, so I would like to avoid pesticides if at all possible.
Thanks in advance for your replies.
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Sometimes I can be rather slow (thinking wise). A couple of days ago I went into the coop to gather eggs, which is a daily task for me. Once I gather the eggs, I always go straightway to the barn to feed my three steers. Well, all of a sudden two days ago I felt like something was crawling all over me once I left the coop. It drove me to the point I came in and took a shower after feeding the steers. Well it happened again yesterday, some scenario. Today, while on my way to church, the lightbulb came on; I said I bet it's mites. Well after church and lunch I went out to gather the eggs and once again I felt like I had bugs crawling all over me. I picked up one of my hens and looked at her vent and sure enough there was tiny bugs crawling on her, so I am assuming it is mites.
HOW DO I GET RID OF THESE THINGS? Please don't tell me I have to kill off my flock and start over, as these hens have just begun to lay. My plans are to completely clean and sweep out the coop tomorrow. Then I will apply a strong contrated spray of Clorox. Once it dries I will put down and thick layer of DE. Would this be the appropriate treatment, or do I need to go another way on this. I can't keep going into the coop and having to shower everytime.
I run a very clean operation, so I am quite at a loss as to how this happened. I prefer to take a more organic approach, so I would like to avoid pesticides if at all possible.
Thanks in advance for your replies.