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| Question about Pets:Chicken mites? |
It is very possable that it was from the food. But, you may wish to find out if your chicks have mites or not. To find this out at night before you put them to sleep put a dark towel over their cage. In the morning if you see a bunch of white dots on the towel your chicks have mites. (The next night you may want to use a white towel to see if they have anyother types of mites) You can also check around your chicks neck which is one of the favorite places of mites. If your bird is infested you should be able to see it.
If you find out that your birds have mites I wouldn't suggest washing them. Reason being is that they are so young that they could easily get chilled. If you can make it to a local feed or grain shop look around to see if you can find any dust for getting rid of mites. Read the labels and see how old the chickens have to be for the dust to be used.
If you can not use the dust mite powder and you find that the mites are to much of a problem use butter or oil to sufficate the mites.
Mites are stressful very stressful to chickens. To help them out make sure that your chicks are eating good quality chick starter and you can put one tablespoon of sugar per gallon of water into their waterer.
Otherways to help the infestation is to wash the brooder, and supplies with permathrin. Make sure the chicks aren't consuming any of this. Then put down new bedding.
Ways to prevent mites in the future. Make sure that your chickens have axcess to dirt to take dust baths. When they do this the dust will sufficate the mites. Also keep the coop clean.
Also since you just got the chicks and are a first time chicken owner here is some information about caring for chicks.
During the first week of life chicks should be keep in a brooder if it is not warm enough outside. The brooder should be 90 degrees during the first week. Go down five degrees till you get to 75 degress.
In your brooder make sure the chicks have food and water nearby. Make sure that the water is shallow (Chick waters are the best) so that the chicks don't drown themselves.
In your brooder to stop the chicks from pecking each other put some grass in the cage, if you are using a light bulb use a red one it discourages the chicks form pecking at one another.
In your brooder make sure that the floor is not a slippery surface. If it is the chicks could become straddle legged. (When a chicken slips into a split form). To prevent this don't use slippery bedding such as newspapers. Sawdust is okay but make sure that the chicks aren't mistaking it for chick starter.
Hope this helps,
Edit- Due to Heather's responce. Yes, mites do hurt birds and can even kill them if the problem becomes to great. Depending on the type of mites they can suck your birds blood and or destroy your chickens feathers (when they get them in your case) So leaving your chicken with mites is just as bad as leaving your pet dog with fleas.http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load...
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