leopardstar Posted January 3, 2008 Share Posted January 3, 2008 I have just got some new bantums after sadly loosing my last ones to a terrible mite infestation. It's taken me a year to build up enough courage to start again. I didn't know much about red mites before and then it was too late. What preventative measures can I take this time? As my bantums are predominantely in the run can I make a dustbath for them? Does this not get very wet and messy in the winter months? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hen Watch Posted January 3, 2008 Share Posted January 3, 2008 My eglu run is covered with a shower curtain. For a dustbath I have a 2'x1.5' plastic box with dry mud (from my greenhouse), little bit of Auboise and a sprinkle of Diatom (see Omlet shop). My chooks love it. Edit to say: if you do a search on this forum for dustbaths you will get all sorts of info on what others use as "ingredients" in the bath. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 3, 2008 Share Posted January 3, 2008 keep an eye out for red spots on the roosting bars, perches inside your our girls coop/run. Clean it thoroughly once a month with poultry shield and then dust red mite powder or diatom along the roosting bars/perches and in the nest boxes and on your girls too. We use aubiose so we just sprinkle some red mite powder in that once the coop is cleaned out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted January 3, 2008 Share Posted January 3, 2008 lots of people make their own dustbaths. I originally started off with a cat litter tray with play sand in it, but my girls preferred to eat it rather than bathe! Some people use old plant pots or tubtrugs full of compost and they put some diatom and redmite powder in it. You could use anything really that a hen's bottom would fit in, if you're very handy you could even construct your own out of wood with a little roof over the top to keep out the wet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted January 3, 2008 Share Posted January 3, 2008 I use a cat litter tray with a slight lip, to stop all the dust from coming out. I fill it with ash from the fire and sprinkle red mite powder in every week or so. I use diatom on the perches and also a sprinkle of red mite powder every week in the nest box and perches. Touch wood, no sign of mites yet! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted January 3, 2008 Share Posted January 3, 2008 Welcome to the forum. I put redmite powder on the roosting bars and in the nooks and crannies, and also in the Aubiose in the nest box.......as a prophylaxis, but also because I love the smell. Have you got an Eglu? Cover the run with a clear shower curtain or other plastic sheeting and set up a shallow tubtrug or similar. Mine love to dustbathe in a mix of sandpit sand and compost. I also stir a bit of redmite powder in that ...when I remember. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noodle Posted January 4, 2008 Share Posted January 4, 2008 I bought my girls a shallow trug for their Christmas pressie (see link below) I put sharp sand and mite powder in it. They love it.....and it matches my eglu!!! Takes up a bit of space in their run but its worth it, and they like to perch on the edge http://www.faulks.co.uk/store/index.php?target=categories&category_id=12 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
