January 3, 2025 • 10 mins
This episode revolves around the issue of grain mites in chicken feed and their implications for poultry health. By sharing personal experiences and practical tips, we discuss how to identify, prevent, and manage infestations to safeguard your flock's nutrition.
• Discussion on the impact of grain mites on chicken feed
• Personal anecdote on discovering mites in purchased feed
• Explanation of how grain mites affect feed quality
• Effective measures for addressing infestations
• Importance of sourcing feed from reputable suppliers
• Recommendations for proper feed storage and cleaning practices
• Insights on using the CoopWorks feed silo for feed management
• Conclusion with key takeaways on vigilance against pests
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hello friends, and I hope you guys are enjoying the
episodes that I put together,and I'd love to hear from you to
be able to get more ideas.
But, as you can imagine, doingthis is not free.
So if you could find it in yourheart at some point to maybe
think about wanting to supportthe show a buck or two, you know
, I mean, that's not a big dealbut if that's something you
would consider doing, you can goto any of the episodes from
(00:22):
your podcast app.
I personally use Apple Podcastapp.
Scroll down, click on supportthe show and if you do, I'll
give you a shout out on the showand again, I will answer and
read and answer your questionson the show as well.
Or you could just simply go tochickenseverydaybuzzsproutcom
that's chickens plural.
(00:43):
Everyday, all one wordbuzzsproutcom and it every day,
all one word dot, buzzsprout,dot com.
And it would be very helpful.
Believe it or not, I haveequipment that I need to upgrade
.
I pay a monthly fee for the,the podcast service.
I pay a monthly fee for theediting software that I use.
So anyway, I thought I wouldbring this to your attention and
if it's something that youwould consider doing, I would be
eternally grateful.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
Are we ready, Pawpaw?
Hello friends and welcome toChicken.
Every Day, a podcast for you,the backyard chicken enthusiast,
and mine.
Your host is my Pawpaw, Gary,Gary Valerie of Senla Backyard
Chickens.
Here we have fun while sharingideas and learning how to care
for our foul-feathered friends.
Check out our videos at Senlathat's C-E-N-L-A Backyard
(01:28):
Chickens on YouTube, TikTok andFacebook.
So, without further ado, let'sstart today's show.
How was that?
Speaker 1 (01:38):
Hello friends, gary, with CENLA Backyard Chickens,
here with you again, and thispast summer I bought two large
bags of laying pellets fromTractor Supply and I bought the
Purina brand laying pellets.
When I got them home, openedthem up.
Well, I did one at a time.
The first one was heavilyinfested with grain mites.
(01:59):
Then the second one.
I checked it.
It was also heavily infestedwith grain mites.
Grain mites Do not harm yourbirds, however.
They eat the nutrition out ofthe feed.
The first thing they go for isthe germ, then they do the other
parts and then they graduate ondown.
They eat what is nutritious toyour animal's food.
(02:19):
So you don't want them in there.
One of the things that you cando if you suspect that you had
that, you can freeze your foodfor a couple of weeks.
But why should you have to dothat whenever?
It's not your issue, you didn'tcause that.
Another thing you can do isjust, you know, put some
diatomaceous earth mix in there.
I do not recommend doing thatbecause that can have some
effects as well.
(02:40):
Probably the best thing iswherever you bought that feed
from, if you have that issue,take it back, tell them what you
got, demand something else,better and different, or if you
have a different source.
Luckily for me, I have adifferent source up here, a
local source that creates andgrinds and makes their own feed,
but today I bought some morefrom tractor supply, some more
(03:03):
purina.
The do more 16 layer pellets iswhat I got from them.
However, it looks like thatthey've taken care of that
problem since then, so I'm goingto go ahead and give them some
of this Purina that I got.
After this, I'm going back tomy local company.
Of course, until maybe thesummer again, I may have to
check this out once more Is dustat the bottom of your food
(03:32):
container instead of the pelletsor the normal crumbles that you
would have?
You see right here, I use theCoop Works feed silo.
I really like it.
I use the large one.
This is the 80 pound silo thatthey have.
It is the best I've ever used.
It's tough, it's durable, it'smade of heavy-duty plastic, you
(03:53):
see right here.
And of course, it's time to feedmy birds again.
This is the feed silo itselfand the way I noticed that I had
feed mice.
To begin with, I scooped upsome from in here and what I'll
do?
Once a week or so I'll scoop upsome and I'll ferment it.
And when I scooped it up here,and what I'll do once a week or
so I'll scoop up some and I'llferment it, and when I scooped
it up, poured it into my jug forfermenting.
(04:14):
I saw all these bugs in there,ran back out here, started
around.
Some saw more.
I looked under here and it wasdusty instead of the pellets,
like you see right there.
Sure enough that I that I hadthat issue going on, which was
terrible, of course.
However, it looks like, uh,that they've taken care of that
problem since then, so I'm gonnago ahead and give them some of
(04:35):
this purina that I got.
After this, I'm going back tomy local company.
Of course, until maybe thesummer again, I may have to
check this out once more.
But, guys, by the way, if bychance, you may think you want
one of these coopworks fee silos, check out one.
My videos I have a video that'son this particular silo right
there.
Any of the products that theyhave over at CoopWorks.
(04:56):
There's a link in that videowhere you receive a discount.
I get a small portion of thatdiscount.
It's not huge, but it'ssomething.
And just the fact that you get,you know however many I think
it's 10 or or 12, I don'tremember what it was off of.
What your neighbors pay ispretty cool thing.
You will not regret it.
They have three different waysthat you can mount them.
Right now this is mounted.
(05:17):
I'll show you that.
Right there is a plate.
It's got four vertical piecessticking out in different
directions.
It's mounted on that.
Sometimes I have it mounted onthis stake where it just sits in
the ground like that and it isstaked up and then you can also
mount it on four different legs.
That is one of the leg holdersand these just extend down like
(05:42):
that and you can mount it on thelegs and you can also adjust
the height to.
It Holds a lot of feed.
The reason I like the mountthat I'm using right now because
it's pretty much mouse and ratproof.
You know I used to say thatthere's no way a mouse could get
inside my pen because I havehardware cloth all the way
around.
I have hardware cloth buried atthe bottoms.
(06:02):
You see where the girls arestanding.
Right there there's hardwarecloth and the grass is going
over.
I said no way something that amouse is going to get in here
One day I was in here changingout that dust bath that you see
right there.
When I pulled it out, threelittle baby mice took off
running.
They didn't take off for longbecause the girls were there and
they took care of them, soyou're not going to keep mice
(06:25):
out.
You know, no matter how tightyou think that you have it in
here, of course, course I havemy doors open.
You know for them to go backand forth.
So I've got mice.
But guys, check out thisCoopworks feed silo.
They're not cheap.
This one, I think, was close to200 bucks.
But when you think it isprobably going to last 30 years,
I don't know.
It's going to last an extremelylong time.
(06:46):
There's nothing to rust,nothing to rot.
The stakes and what have youare aluminum.
Aluminum doesn't rust, somoisture on the ground is not
going to hurt it.
They are really, really aquality product.
Check out my video that I havehad on there.
Have online ScentLock Backyard.
Check it on YouTube and TikTok.
Go to that link.
You'll get your discount.
No-transcript.
(07:15):
Some more information that Ifound on these grain mites, and
this is according to the CornellCooperative Extension.
Grain mites are very smallarachnids, in other words,
spiders that live in processedgrains such as cracked corn,
ground wheat and finished feed,pellets, crumbs or mash.
They live in very largepopulations, with females laying
(07:36):
upwards of 800 eggs over theirlifetime, or 30 eggs per day.
They eat the most nutritiouspart of the grain and seeds, the
germ, etc.
And decrease the feed's qualityof nutrients, as well as
release disagreeable odors thatmay discourage feed consumption
and are easily transmitted byinsects, the wind and people to
(08:00):
other feed storage areas.
The mites themselves are notharmful.
However, the results decreasenutrition of the feed.
With a heavy infestation, theirexcrement or feces may be
harmful to the digestive systemand, in extreme cases, allergic
reactions in some animals.
Don't fall into the trap, guys,that this is just another form
(08:22):
of protein.
The protein content of themites doesn't offset the
nutrition they've stolen fromthis expensive feed that you're
paying for.
So what do you do if you findthem First off?
Doesn't offset the nutritionthey've stolen from this
expensive feed that you'repaying for.
So what do you do if you findthem First off?
To feed clean storage or feedbins with soap and water and use
(08:45):
a multicide?
You know I talked earlier aboutmy CoopWorks feed silo.
This thing, being made out ofheavy-duty plastic really made
cleaning these things a loteasier because of that.
If the grain is going to bestored for more than a few
months, consider treating thearea with an arachnicide.
(09:06):
Inspect new bags if infestationis fairly light.
Freeze the bags for two weeksto kill the mites.
If not, throw them away orreturn them to your store Store
in a cool, dry environment insealed containers.
If your chickens spill feed onthe ground, sprinkle some DE or
diatomaceous earth on the ground.
(09:27):
Just don't do it too heavily.
There is a shred of good newshere, however.
These mites need specifictemperature and humidity ranges
to flourish.
They thrive in conditions withhigh temperatures and high
humidity of 55% and more.
Under optimal conditions, themites can complete their life
cycle in 9 to 11 days, infestinga feed storage quickly.
(09:50):
Research indicates that theirlife cycle is completed in 16
days at 71 degrees Fahrenheitand 28 days at 50 to 60 degrees.
Their life cycle is completedin 16 days at 71 degrees
Fahrenheit and 28 days at 50 to60 degrees and 45 degrees,
unless the research I found saysthey're not going to be there
(10:14):
Now, if you have a warm room andit's 45 degrees outside, that
doesn't count.
They can grow in that.
So wintertime, you know, shouldbe a lot better, but if you
guys end up getting these feedmites, grain mites, don't ignore
the issue.
Make sure you take care of it.
Thanks and see you soon.
Bye-bye.
Speaker 2 (10:34):
That's all we have time for today.
I really hope you enjoyedlistening to the podcast.
Be sure to watch our videos.
So, on behalf of my Papa, gary,and me, sylvie, thanks for
listening.
Hello friends, and I hope you guys are enjoying the
episodes that I put together,and I'd love to hear from you to
be able to get more ideas.
But, as you can imagine, doingthis is not free.
So if you could find it in yourheart at some point to maybe
think about wanting to supportthe show a buck or two, you know
, I mean, that's not a big dealbut if that's something you
would consider doing, you can goto any of the episodes from
(00:22):
your podcast app.
I personally use Apple Podcastapp.
Scroll down, click on supportthe show and if you do, I'll
give you a shout out on the showand again, I will answer and
read and answer your questionson the show as well.
Or you could just simply go tochickenseverydaybuzzsproutcom
that's chickens plural.
(00:43):
Everyday, all one wordbuzzsproutcom and it every day,
all one word dot, buzzsprout,dot com.
And it would be very helpful.
Believe it or not, I haveequipment that I need to upgrade
.
I pay a monthly fee for the,the podcast service.
I pay a monthly fee for theediting software that I use.
So anyway, I thought I wouldbring this to your attention and
if it's something that youwould consider doing, I would be
eternally grateful.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
Are we ready, Pawpaw?
Hello friends and welcome toChicken.
Every Day, a podcast for you,the backyard chicken enthusiast,
and mine.
Your host is my Pawpaw, Gary,Gary Valerie of Senla Backyard
Chickens.
Here we have fun while sharingideas and learning how to care
for our foul-feathered friends.
Check out our videos at Senlathat's C-E-N-L-A Backyard
(01:28):
Chickens on YouTube, TikTok andFacebook.
So, without further ado, let'sstart today's show.
How was that?
Speaker 1 (01:38):
Hello friends, gary, with CENLA Backyard Chickens,
here with you again, and thispast summer I bought two large
bags of laying pellets fromTractor Supply and I bought the
Purina brand laying pellets.
When I got them home, openedthem up.
Well, I did one at a time.
The first one was heavilyinfested with grain mites.
(01:59):
Then the second one.
I checked it.
It was also heavily infestedwith grain mites.
Grain mites Do not harm yourbirds, however.
They eat the nutrition out ofthe feed.
The first thing they go for isthe germ, then they do the other
parts and then they graduate ondown.
They eat what is nutritious toyour animal's food.
(02:19):
So you don't want them in there.
One of the things that you cando if you suspect that you had
that, you can freeze your foodfor a couple of weeks.
But why should you have to dothat whenever?
It's not your issue, you didn'tcause that.
Another thing you can do isjust, you know, put some
diatomaceous earth mix in there.
I do not recommend doing thatbecause that can have some
effects as well.
(02:40):
Probably the best thing iswherever you bought that feed
from, if you have that issue,take it back, tell them what you
got, demand something else,better and different, or if you
have a different source.
Luckily for me, I have adifferent source up here, a
local source that creates andgrinds and makes their own feed,
but today I bought some morefrom tractor supply, some more
(03:03):
purina.
The do more 16 layer pellets iswhat I got from them.
However, it looks like thatthey've taken care of that
problem since then, so I'm goingto go ahead and give them some
of this Purina that I got.
After this, I'm going back tomy local company.
Of course, until maybe thesummer again, I may have to
check this out once more Is dustat the bottom of your food
(03:32):
container instead of the pelletsor the normal crumbles that you
would have?
You see right here, I use theCoop Works feed silo.
I really like it.
I use the large one.
This is the 80 pound silo thatthey have.
It is the best I've ever used.
It's tough, it's durable, it'smade of heavy-duty plastic, you
(03:53):
see right here.
And of course, it's time to feedmy birds again.
This is the feed silo itselfand the way I noticed that I had
feed mice.
To begin with, I scooped upsome from in here and what I'll
do?
Once a week or so I'll scoop upsome and I'll ferment it.
And when I scooped it up here,and what I'll do once a week or
so I'll scoop up some and I'llferment it, and when I scooped
it up, poured it into my jug forfermenting.
(04:14):
I saw all these bugs in there,ran back out here, started
around.
Some saw more.
I looked under here and it wasdusty instead of the pellets,
like you see right there.
Sure enough that I that I hadthat issue going on, which was
terrible, of course.
However, it looks like, uh,that they've taken care of that
problem since then, so I'm gonnago ahead and give them some of
(04:35):
this purina that I got.
After this, I'm going back tomy local company.
Of course, until maybe thesummer again, I may have to
check this out once more.
But, guys, by the way, if bychance, you may think you want
one of these coopworks fee silos, check out one.
My videos I have a video that'son this particular silo right
there.
Any of the products that theyhave over at CoopWorks.
(04:56):
There's a link in that videowhere you receive a discount.
I get a small portion of thatdiscount.
It's not huge, but it'ssomething.
And just the fact that you get,you know however many I think
it's 10 or or 12, I don'tremember what it was off of.
What your neighbors pay ispretty cool thing.
You will not regret it.
They have three different waysthat you can mount them.
Right now this is mounted.
(05:17):
I'll show you that.
Right there is a plate.
It's got four vertical piecessticking out in different
directions.
It's mounted on that.
Sometimes I have it mounted onthis stake where it just sits in
the ground like that and it isstaked up and then you can also
mount it on four different legs.
That is one of the leg holdersand these just extend down like
(05:42):
that and you can mount it on thelegs and you can also adjust
the height to.
It Holds a lot of feed.
The reason I like the mountthat I'm using right now because
it's pretty much mouse and ratproof.
You know I used to say thatthere's no way a mouse could get
inside my pen because I havehardware cloth all the way
around.
I have hardware cloth buried atthe bottoms.
(06:02):
You see where the girls arestanding.
Right there there's hardwarecloth and the grass is going
over.
I said no way something that amouse is going to get in here
One day I was in here changingout that dust bath that you see
right there.
When I pulled it out, threelittle baby mice took off
running.
They didn't take off for longbecause the girls were there and
they took care of them, soyou're not going to keep mice
(06:25):
out.
You know, no matter how tightyou think that you have it in
here, of course, course I havemy doors open.
You know for them to go backand forth.
So I've got mice.
But guys, check out thisCoopworks feed silo.
They're not cheap.
This one, I think, was close to200 bucks.
But when you think it isprobably going to last 30 years,
I don't know.
It's going to last an extremelylong time.
(06:46):
There's nothing to rust,nothing to rot.
The stakes and what have youare aluminum.
Aluminum doesn't rust, somoisture on the ground is not
going to hurt it.
They are really, really aquality product.
Check out my video that I havehad on there.
Have online ScentLock Backyard.
Check it on YouTube and TikTok.
Go to that link.
You'll get your discount.
No-transcript.
(07:15):
Some more information that Ifound on these grain mites, and
this is according to the CornellCooperative Extension.
Grain mites are very smallarachnids, in other words,
spiders that live in processedgrains such as cracked corn,
ground wheat and finished feed,pellets, crumbs or mash.
They live in very largepopulations, with females laying
(07:36):
upwards of 800 eggs over theirlifetime, or 30 eggs per day.
They eat the most nutritiouspart of the grain and seeds, the
germ, etc.
And decrease the feed's qualityof nutrients, as well as
release disagreeable odors thatmay discourage feed consumption
and are easily transmitted byinsects, the wind and people to
(08:00):
other feed storage areas.
The mites themselves are notharmful.
However, the results decreasenutrition of the feed.
With a heavy infestation, theirexcrement or feces may be
harmful to the digestive systemand, in extreme cases, allergic
reactions in some animals.
Don't fall into the trap, guys,that this is just another form
(08:22):
of protein.
The protein content of themites doesn't offset the
nutrition they've stolen fromthis expensive feed that you're
paying for.
So what do you do if you findthem First off?
Doesn't offset the nutritionthey've stolen from this
expensive feed that you'repaying for.
So what do you do if you findthem First off?
To feed clean storage or feedbins with soap and water and use
(08:45):
a multicide?
You know I talked earlier aboutmy CoopWorks feed silo.
This thing, being made out ofheavy-duty plastic really made
cleaning these things a loteasier because of that.
If the grain is going to bestored for more than a few
months, consider treating thearea with an arachnicide.
(09:06):
Inspect new bags if infestationis fairly light.
Freeze the bags for two weeksto kill the mites.
If not, throw them away orreturn them to your store Store
in a cool, dry environment insealed containers.
If your chickens spill feed onthe ground, sprinkle some DE or
diatomaceous earth on the ground.
(09:27):
Just don't do it too heavily.
There is a shred of good newshere, however.
These mites need specifictemperature and humidity ranges
to flourish.
They thrive in conditions withhigh temperatures and high
humidity of 55% and more.
Under optimal conditions, themites can complete their life
cycle in 9 to 11 days, infestinga feed storage quickly.
(09:50):
Research indicates that theirlife cycle is completed in 16
days at 71 degrees Fahrenheitand 28 days at 50 to 60 degrees.
Their life cycle is completedin 16 days at 71 degrees
Fahrenheit and 28 days at 50 to60 degrees and 45 degrees,
unless the research I found saysthey're not going to be there
(10:14):
Now, if you have a warm room andit's 45 degrees outside, that
doesn't count.
They can grow in that.
So wintertime, you know, shouldbe a lot better, but if you
guys end up getting these feedmites, grain mites, don't ignore
the issue.
Make sure you take care of it.
Thanks and see you soon.
Bye-bye.
Speaker 2 (10:34):
That's all we have time for today.
I really hope you enjoyedlistening to the podcast.
Be sure to watch our videos.
So, on behalf of my Papa, gary,and me, sylvie, thanks for
listening.
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