Chicken Fleas, Mites

[MrBrad]

My neighbor has chickens--fewer than a dozen--which run loose around the neighborhood. Even though I have a cement wall around my place, there are little mites or fleas that inhabit my yard and gardens. I believe that they come from the chickens. These are very minute light brown critters that jump onto my body when I'm out working in the garden. One minute there's one on my arm, seconds later I can feel crawling behind my ear, and on it goes. I've tried spraying with Sevin, but that doesn't seem to phase them. I've also had a professional pesticide company spray the yard on three occasions. That helps for only a day or two. The company says that these critters are particularly difficult to eliminate. I guess so.

Has anyone else had experience with these kinds of fleas, and what can be done to get rid of them? Maybe I should buy out the 8 or 10 chicken investment that the neighbor has. Your thoughts are appreciated.

[slapout]

Creosote sprayed via a big garden sprayer may do the trick. Its the dry season so it will stay around a while and mites do not like it at all. We used this to control inside the chicken house, where the roast and nests were.

[MrBrad]

Creosote sprayed via a big garden sprayer may do the trick. Its the dry season so it will stay around a while and mites do not like it at all. We used this to control inside the chicken house, where the roast and nests were.

Oh, that won't do in my case. The fleas are in the grass, and in and around the flowers. Black, tar-derived creosote would turn my place into a parking lot. Not quite the effect I'm wanting. But thanks just the same.

Any other thoughts?

[andycrosby]

I have just wrote a small paper for this a few days a go. http://www.thai-farm.com/eye-mite-on-chickens/

hope it helps

[MrBrad]

I have just wrote a small paper for this a few days a go. http://www.thai-farm...te-on-chickens/

hope it helps

Thanks, Andy, for the good article. The mite that you discuss, though, is not the one in my yard. There must be dozens if not hundreds of different species of mites and similar creatures that live in these parts. I'm still thinking that they come from the chickens, but your article got me to thinking about another source: rice husks. I've brought in a number of different landscaping materials including rice husks, ground coconut shells, sod, and the like. Any one of those materials could have been harboring the mites, and now they've found their freedom to enjoy my yard. Back to the drawing board.

[andycrosby]

Hi Brad in order to get rid of them we need to id the little buggers, I think there are to many to be cat fleas 1) what size are they , there is now also a preditor mite that eats fleas they are about 45 pounds a bag in the UK sorry I lost the link but ill find it again If you need it , but better we know what we are up against first and Ill help as much as I can.

[andycrosby]

just been thinking, your garden needs to be saved in all this Guinea fowl are your answer they dont scratch and they will eat everything that moves and leave your flower beds perfect

Think there is a book called Gardening with Guineas might be able to find a free E-book on line

[MrBrad]

Thanks again for the ideas, Andy. Those little buggers are--for me--too hard to capture, and they'd never sit still long enough for a close-up photo. That could be my next challenge, though. Instead of rubbing them out on my skin every chance I get, I could just as well have my camera handy and see if I can catch one on film, or whatever is inside my camera. They are quick, though; now you see (or feel) them, and now you don't.

As for the Guinea fowl, therein lies another problem. What's worse mites or bird shit? And, I suppose I'd have to supplement their diet with other bird food as well. I'll look online and see if I can find the book you mention.

I think I'll just lie out in the grass tomorrow with camera at the ready, and see how quickly I can draw the mites' attention; shouldn't be too long, really.

Thanks again.