Urgent!!! Awful mite infestation killed three hens while we were on vacation! WHAT DO I DO?

We left on a trip on July 1st and just got back today (the 10th). When we left our younger 7 had a mite infestation but we took out all the bedding and put in tons of diatomaceous earth in (a whole bag) and new bedding. We had just been on a three-day-two-night camping trip and were really busy so I slipped on collecting eggs. These three were broody-ish when we left. Today when we got back Iwent to visit my girls and found them dead in the corner of the coop. They were confined while we were away to prevent getting picked off and didn’t have access to a dust bath. Tonight we were thinking of putting the remaining four in with our older flock of 5 for the night as we are still unpacking and don’t have the time for a full coop clean. What should I do? It had to be the mites that got them because they were in the coop all the time, right?

Also, please go easy on me. I don’t need any “you need to make sure you collect eggs every day” or “don’t leave on vacation when you have a mite infestation.” Before the camping trip on of my favorite hens was attacked by an eagle and I’m still getting over the emotional trauma of that, plus o was hoping to come home to see my sweet flock and got this.

Thanks for any advice and kind words

Unfortunately, Diotomatious Earth does little to nothing, as you found out, make sure you wear a mask as you clean out your coop, it harmful for you to breathe. (Chickens too)
Get permrethrine poultry dust or spray and cover everything. Sorry for your losses!

nuthatched said:

Unfortunately, Diotomatious Earth does little to nothing, as you found out, make sure you wear a mask as you clean out your coop, it harmful for you to breathe. (Chickens too)
Get permrethrine poultry dust or spray and cover everything. Sorry for your losses!

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Ok. Thank you. I’ll try to get my hands on that.

DE doesn’t do anything. This is a thread I saved because it has dilution %s and also good instructions. Coop gets stripped, treated. Hens all treated. Depending on what you go with and how stubborn they are, a second round can be necessary. https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/are-these-mites.1516404/#post-25528894

If you don't have any permethrin right now you may want to give them a butt bath. Most of the mites should be around the vent, as well as the eggs. Just get her bottom wet and then put some dawn soap. Giving them a "butt bath" really helps get off all the mites temporarily. Giving a bath would be good until you get permethrin. You also will want to blow dry them some to dry them off.

Thread on eagle attacked hen here

RIP thread for these three here

Disheygirl said:

DE doesn’t do anything. This is a thread I saved because it has dilution %s and also good instructions. Coop gets stripped, treated. Hens all treated. Depending on what you go with and how stubborn they are, a second round can be necessary. https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/are-these-mites.1516404/#post-25528894

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Thanks! That’s pretty helpful.

Tookie said:

If you don't have any permethrin right now you may want to give them a butt bath. Most of the mites should be around the vent, as well as the eggs. Just get her bottom wet and then put some dawn soap. Giving them a "butt bath" really helps get off all the mites temporarily. Giving a bath would be good until you get permethrin. You also will want to blow dry them some to dry them off.

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Alright, thanks!

My parents say no permethrin because they don’t want to use pesticides

EEforMe said:

My parents say no permethrin because “no pesticides”

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Oh, dear. Can you get poultry dust and just tell them it's DE? I normally don't advocate lying, but you lost 3 pullets. This is not a good situation.

If you're able to sneak a bottle of Bronco Spray in, it smells lovely like citronella, not like harsh chemicals.