By Morgon Luvall Newquist
eHow Contributor
Chickens are often affected by mites.
Mites are a
common problem with chickens. Dealing with a mite infestation is
something most chicken owners face at some point. The key to getting rid
of an infestation is to clean and treat the chicken coop rather than
the birds. There are many commercial pesticides on the market for
dealing with mites, but there are also several natural ways to kill the
infestation and keep it from reoccurring.
Clean the Coop
Cleaning out
the coop is the first step in getting rid of mites. Mites live in
bedding, food dishes, and corners or cracks in the coop. If you don't
clean and treat the coop, the chickens continue to catch mites from the
environment. Muck out feces, and throw out all the bedding. Discard food
and water, and clean the dishes with a mixture of vinegar and water.
It's also effective to power wash the inside of the chicken boxes and
the coop to clear out any mites and their eggs.
Neem Seed Oil
Neem seed oil,
which is available at most gardening centers, kills mites by disturbing
their life cycle. Neem oil is natural, and comes from the seeds of an
evergreen tree. Using a sprayer, mist a mixture of neem seed oil and
water onto chickens and their boxes. Neem is powerful, so use 2 tbsp. of
neem oil per 1 gallon of water to create the spray.
Diatomaceous Earth
Diatomaceous
earth is a special type of dirt that is full of sharp edges that pierce
and kill small pests like mites. It is harmless to humans and animals,
and doesn't contain any pesticides or chemicals. Spread the diatomaceous
earth around the coop and then vacuum or sweep it up. Also rub the
earth into the feathers of infested chickens to kill the mites.
Various Oils and Herbs
A number of
herbal insecticides are used on chickens, including tea tree oil,
citronella, garlic, soybean oil, peppermint, lemongrass, eucalyptus and
cedar wood oils. Chickens are bathed with soap containing these oils, or
treated with a spray containing the oils mixed with water. The oils are
very concentrated, so the sprays contain only 1 to 2 percent oil. The
feet and legs of chickens are rubbed with soybean oil, linseed oil or
any type of vegetable oil to help with scaly mites.
Vaseline
Vaseline is
also used to treat scaly leg mites. Spread Vaseline onto the chicken's
legs and feet. The jelly suffocates the mites and soothes the aggravated
skin. Vaseline is spread into corners and cracks as a sort of sealant
to suffocate live mites, and keep new ones from entering the chicken
coop.
Herbal Deterrents
Once the mites
have been killed, there are several natural ways to try and keep them
from returning. The same herbal sprays made to kill the mites are used
on the birds and their bedding to keep mites away. Eucalyptus or
lemongrass leaves are crushed and placed in the chickens' normal
bedding. Another herbal deterrent is crushed garlic in the chickens'
drinking water; mites do not like the scent or taste of garlic.
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