Sevin Dust for chicken mites is an effective acaricide because of its active ingredients, which are deadly to bugs. Chickens allowed to free-range should be dusted once in a while. This should be done to prevent parasites like mites and lice from hiding under their feathers.
Sevin dust can kill chicken mites because it is rich in a neurotoxin known as carbaryl. To get rid of mites in chicken, apply 5% Grade-Sevin Dust on the affected areas, then rub in the dust with your hands so the mites are choked. Let the chicken go since the powder will come off after some time, and the bugs will die.
In some countries, Sevin was moved from the list of products used on poultry because it was observed that it reduced egg production in some cases. However, there are different types of Sevin. Dusting chickens or a chicken coop with 5% Sevin Dust should be fine.
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Is Sevin dust safe for chickens?
Sevin dust is safe for chickens and birds in general. If used in moderation and applied only where necessary, it cannot harm your chickens in any way. To use the chemical, strictly adhere to the directions on the manufacturer’s label. Alternatively, confirm with your local vet if you can use Sevin dust and how to apply it.
Remember that the chemical’s primary ingredient, carbaryl, may affect poultry and humans when not safely applied. The toxic nature of Sevin dust makes it no longer approved for use on poultry or other animals at home. The chemical is mainly recommended for protecting crops against parasitic infestations.
Still, be guaranteed that your birds will not die when using Sevin Dust to eliminate mites if you use it moderately and cautiously.
How to dust chicken for mites using Sevin Dust
Here are five steps to kill mites on chickens with Sevin Dust. This will also eliminate other external chicken parasites like lice that hide under their feathers.
1. Check for mites in your chicken
First, ensure that your chicken or chickens are infested with mites. One of the common signs of an infestation is constant itchiness. You will not know that your chickens will constantly be scratching deep into their feathers with the help of their beaks.
Since mites are small, seeing them may not be easier, particularly during the day. When chickens rest at night, use a flashlight to check on a potential mite infestation.
Focus more under the wings and vents. Other signs of an infestation may include unhealthy loss of tail feathers, loss of weight and appetite, dropping feathers from all over the body, and lack of energy.
2. Precaution
Once you have established that your chicken has mites, you can get rid of them. The whole flock needs treatment if one or a few chickens are infected.
Treating your birds in the evening or at night is not really a good idea because it is not okay for them to inhale it through the night. Dust them during the day to avoid dealing with possible mild chicken poisoning.
3. Dust the chickens
Choose the ready-to-use 5% Sevin dust available in the garden section of a store. The solution does not require water, measuring, or even mixing. Have gloves on, scoop the dust, and then rub it on the infested areas.
Remember to handle and apply the chemical when wearing personal protective equipment. Protect your hands, nose, and mouth from exposure to Sevin dust.
4. How to do it
Hold your bird by its legs and sprinkle the chemical under different parts of the feathers. This should include the neck, wing, and vent area. Using your hands, try pushing the dust onto the bird’s skin. This helps the particles to reach every place harboring the mites.
When you finish applying the chemical, your chicken will help spread the dust all over the body when it ruffles its feathers. Repeat the treatment process for the rest of your chickens.
Alternatively, apply Sevin dust by pouring it into a small can or garbage bag. Then, insert your chicken in the bag, ensuring the neck area and the head does not come into contact with the chemical.
Exposing your birds’ faces to Sevin dust may cause breathing problems and even death, mainly when done for a long. Move the bird twistingly while in the can or bag with dust. You may need to have someone around to help you hold the bag or can as you concentrate on handling the chicken.
5. Dust the coop
Once you have finished dusting your birds, provide clean bedding and block the cracks or openings in the coop that may be ushering in termites. Make sure to also sprinkle Sevin dust on the nest boxes plus other parts of the chicken coop, like walls and floors.
How often should I dust my chickens for mites?
Dust your chickens every day for 2-3 weeks when dealing with an infestation of mites. However, as a preventative measure, dust your chickens bi-weekly.
When dusting your poultry, mainly concentrate your efforts around the vent area and below the feathers and wings, which are known to harbor mites and other parasites.
Apart from regularly dusting your chickens for mites, try to prevent infestations. For instance:
- Quarantine your new chickens for about four weeks before letting them be part of your flock. Within the quarantine period, check for signs of possible mite infestation and undertake treatment if necessary.
- Clean the coops used for transporting your chickens.
- Safeguard your backyard flock from getting into contact with wild birds. That can be done by relying on bird netting or different tactics to scare wild birds away, like lasers or roosting spikes.
- Limit visiting fellow keepers of chickens since there is a high chance you may carry with you mites or other parasites on clothes or equipment.
How it works
When you apply Sevin, it will come into contact with mites and fail to detach. With the dust attached, the movement of mites and friction forces the dust to pierce into the pest’s outer body. Then, the dust absorbs the body fluids found in mites, leading to dehydration and death.
Patience is required when using Sevin or other chemicals for mites in chickens. The treatment has to be done continuously.
Since mites can develop resistance to a chemical treatment, different treatment methods should be utilized. For example, you may use Sevin dust with other organic treatment options such as wood ash, garlic juice, sulfur, or Diatomaceous earth.
Always see to it that the environment of your poultry is clean and disinfected. Treating your birds and not cleaning the coop appropriately will not minimize or eliminate an infestation issue. And do not forget to feed your birds with excellent sources of iron, including watermelon, strawberries, and collards, to protect against anemia.
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