Mite Control

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Elmo
Posts: 49
Joined: Tue Jan 13, 2015 10:40 am
Location: TX/San Antonio

I've dusted my nests already, but I noticed one of my birds acting like she might have some mites. Has anyone dusted with new borns in the nest? The eggs are starting to hatch.
Martintown33
Posts: 1366
Joined: Tue Jun 01, 2021 6:21 pm
Location: Laplace,La
Martin Colony History: Colony started in 1998. 2 s&k modified houses and gourd rack

Hi.. it’s normal for all birds, including martins, to scratch and preen themselves.. even without mite infestation. With that said, I do put a little sevin dust reapplication UNDER the nest , after the eggs hatch .. to prevent mites…that is my last application for the season.. putting it under the nesting material, prevents the featherless hatchlings from getting in direct contact with it.. don’t worry the mites will find it..
Good luck
Rob
PMCA member
Laplace, La
Elmo
Posts: 49
Joined: Tue Jan 13, 2015 10:40 am
Location: TX/San Antonio

Cool beans! Thanks again, I'll give it a shot.
Martintown33
Posts: 1366
Joined: Tue Jun 01, 2021 6:21 pm
Location: Laplace,La
Martin Colony History: Colony started in 1998. 2 s&k modified houses and gourd rack

Sure thing. And you don’t need much Sevin. I put about 1/8 tsp. under the nest after the eggs hatch.
Good luck with your hatchlings!
Rob
Last edited by Martintown33 on Wed May 14, 2025 8:26 pm, edited 1 time in total.
PMCA member
Laplace, La
flyin-lowe
Posts: 3788
Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2006 8:49 am
Location: Indiana/Henry Co.

As long as you are careful its pretty easy to place a small a mount of seven under the front edge of a nest without any problem. As long as you don't sneeze and blow it all over the place they will be fine. How long ago did you treat the last time? I always apply right before the first eggs are due to hatch. As long as the nests stay dry this will last until they fledge. As my colony gets older there is a bigger gap between the first to fledge and the last so I have had to treat a second time with some babies in the nest.
2026 HOSP 26
2025 62 pair HOSP 20
2024 60 pair, HOSP 44
2023 60+ pair, HOSP 8
2022 60 nests with 262 eggs, HOSP 14
2021 62 pair, HOSP 9
2020 42 nest, HOSP 8
2019- 31 pair
2018- 15 pair 49 fledged
2017 3 SY pair, 12 eggs , fledged 10. 4 additional lone SY's
2016 1 pair fledged 4
2015 Visitors
2014 Visitors
2013 Moved 6 miles, 1 pair fledged 2.
2012 30 pair fledged 100.
2011 12 pair 43 fledged.
2010 5 pair 14 fledged.
SE Wisc hopefull
Posts: 93
Joined: Mon May 30, 2022 7:57 pm
Location: Kenosha County

Where can you find the old Sevin containing carbaryl? Or does it not matter? I looked everywhere for the old stuff with not success, because many on this forum said that is the way to go. If you can't find it, will the new version work?
Martintown33
Posts: 1366
Joined: Tue Jun 01, 2021 6:21 pm
Location: Laplace,La
Martin Colony History: Colony started in 1998. 2 s&k modified houses and gourd rack

I still have a good amount of the old Sevin left, but I’ve read posts on here that say the new Sevin works, but needs to be reapplied more often??. I’ve also read posts on here that says the poultry dust is safe and works well. I’m sure others will chime in with more info. I’ve included a pic of the poultry dust.
Good luck
Rob
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PMCA member
Laplace, La
LCM
Posts: 121
Joined: Thu Mar 06, 2025 4:33 pm
Location: Many Louisiana
Martin Colony History: Have had martins 20 years, I have anywhere from 6 pair to 10 pair
yearly.

Mr Fly in Lowe, good evening. Please educate me in placing sevin in my Trendsetter please.
The trendsetter cavity is large, shaped like a rectangle.
Sounds like I could have applied incorrectly
I took the sevin and smeared under bottom of metal tray,the length of this entire nesting cavity. This metal tray holds nesting material up off the bottom of the cavity so in other words this metal tray is suspended up and the sevin should be away from the body of any bird or baby.
Thank you for helping me correct if I have messed up.
Sincerely,
Linda from Many La
Linda Moore, Many Louisiana
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