katieandnick Posted August 3, 2008 Share Posted August 3, 2008 diatom kills them, it's made from the fossilised remains of some creature or other. The creature is actually single celled algae, called, oddly, diatoms! Their fossilised remains are present in loads of products you'd find in your house, like toothpaste and polish. They are very cool little plants - some nice pictures of them here http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/10/the_coming_diatom.php The Victorians used to make microscope slides of them, and arrange them in patterns using a pig's hair to move them about! http://www.micrographia.com/specbiol/alg/diato/diat0200/diatom05.htm (I'm a geek about diatoms. I studied them for years for my PhD!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jomaxsmith Posted August 3, 2008 Share Posted August 3, 2008 I probably should take more care. Jules - even Frank suggested wearing a face mask when using it when I last bought a tub of it from Thornes so it must be nasty stuff to inhale. Consider yourself told, young lady!! Jo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chicken crazy Posted August 3, 2008 Share Posted August 3, 2008 As I'm a newbie and after seeing those pics. ergh! I dont like bugs and they look creepy! What would people suggest as the best thing for me to use when I get my ceglu to prevent them? Fingers crossed I won't get any! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superjules Posted August 3, 2008 Share Posted August 3, 2008 Jules - even Frank suggested wearing a face mask when using it when I last bought a tub of it from Thornes so it must be nasty stuff to inhale. Consider yourself told, young lady!! Jo Yes Miss! (Superjules hangs head in shame!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted August 3, 2008 Share Posted August 3, 2008 The Victorians used to make microscope slides of them, and arrange them in patterns using a pig's hair to move them about! You learn something new and fascinating every day on this forum! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Higgledy Piggledy Posted August 3, 2008 Share Posted August 3, 2008 Can I just ask please: I know tRed mites bite humans but can they be transferred to dogs at all? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surrey_chickens Posted August 4, 2008 Share Posted August 4, 2008 1. Clean the house out thoroughly with Dettol and water (equal measure). Make sure chickens are nowhere near this as its toxic when wet. Leave to dry in the sun. 2. Dust the chickens and their roosting bars with Diatom. Also put some in their dust bath as long as its not wet. 3. Put vaseline on the ends of the roosting bars. Mites hate petroleum-based products. Repeat each week for for weeks. Those instructions saw me through a nasty infestation of red mites. Best of luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mayflower Posted August 4, 2008 Share Posted August 4, 2008 Hi, I acquired my hens the same time and place as you. I thoroughly checked them over and have continued to check them and so far I have'nt seen any. However, I have gone through three containers of red mite powder, which I put under their wings and vents every week, in their nestbox and run and everywhere. In fact, I have developed a cough since hvaing the hens. I think I have an allergy to the dust in the aubiose and using too much red mite powder....though the chickens 'aint coughing!! Yes, I hate the smell of the powder, also, one of the reasons why I have gone through three containers is that, when I'm puffing it about, the lid often comes off. So then I have to scoop up the surplus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenanne Posted August 5, 2008 Share Posted August 5, 2008 Definitely, definitely please wear a mask when handling powders - diatom, louse powder, etc - farmers lung (caused by inhaling dust, over a period of time) is very very nasty indeed. If the bedding is very dusty, either wear a mask, or don';t use it (depending on how bad it is). And I imagine louse-and-mite powders must do nasty things to your lungs anyway. Otherwise, to restate: red mite like dark corners / nooks & cranies. Thats it. It doesn't matter if its a dark corner in a plastic or wooden or anything else structure. So you need to treat all housing for red mite. Being vigilant is the best way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JM Posted August 5, 2008 Share Posted August 5, 2008 The thought of red mite was one thing that kept me delaying getting hens... This may sound a bit of a daft question , but where do the red mite actually come from? ie if you have uninfested, healthy hens and a new hen house, how would you get an infestation? Do wild birds carry them or do they come in on the wind? (My cube is under a big oak tree at the bottom of the garden - which is full of birds and I'm sure quite a few nests.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted August 5, 2008 Share Posted August 5, 2008 Wild birds are the culprits, although they don't actually live on them, just feast on them and live nearby. As soon s hens arrive, they are drawn to them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JM Posted August 5, 2008 Share Posted August 5, 2008 Thanks! I'll keep even more of a look out now! J Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackrocksrock Posted August 5, 2008 Share Posted August 5, 2008 I am sorry you have the dreaded red mite - I appreciate the photos as I have had some little red "spiders" and lots of them crawling around outside the eglu but it is not red mite - its a red spider and coming out of the mulch I think. I have used loads of diatom anyway to get rid of them as hate them too!. I am not a creepy crawly person at all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted August 5, 2008 Share Posted August 5, 2008 Can you put too much powder in the cube because I am possibly using a dangerous concoction of the whole lot? With the roosting bars I use a brush to get into all nooks and crannies - first upside down and then a liberal dusting over the top, brushing of excess so that it goes down into the well. Then anything that might be used as a hidey hole - even in the handle areas. As we blocked off the nesting area, I think we will have to remove it all and double check. Good photos even though they were yukky, so thank you for that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fizzle Knit Posted August 5, 2008 Share Posted August 5, 2008 Sorry to hear about your chicken, and hope the others are OK now. I actually love the smell of the red mite powder I use - think it smells like a posh health spa kind of smell, so I feel I'm really pampering those hens! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mum2boys Posted August 7, 2008 Share Posted August 7, 2008 red mites are driving us potty.... seriously! I am spraying the house with jayes fluid (diluted slightly) weekly , I have red mite concentrate liquid and powder - I am using the powder weekly as well.. last night I even used washing up liquid around crevices/cracks as well as the powder.. there are mites EVERYWHERE... I only have to touch the house or run and I am covered in mites - it is horribly itchy.. I dread to think how the chickens are coping... I feel a failure as I can't keep the mite concentrations low if not at bay.... so... if I spend the money on diatom and poultry shield - will it work?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katieandnick Posted August 7, 2008 Share Posted August 7, 2008 It will work - go for it! (and I suggest getting a sprayer with the poultry shield as it makes applying it a lot easier, plus you don't have to touch the house!). Make sure you wear lots of protective gear - gloves, mask, goggles if you have them. Better to be safe than sorry! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troy Posted August 7, 2008 Share Posted August 7, 2008 Theres something on line called ecomite. Its meant to kill mites outright and not just repel them. Its used by a friend of mine though I have never had to (yet) She swears by it. Troy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abwsco Posted August 7, 2008 Share Posted August 7, 2008 red mites are driving us potty.... seriously! I am spraying the house with jayes fluid (diluted slightly) weekly , I have red mite concentrate liquid and powder - I am using the powder weekly as well.. last night I even used washing up liquid around crevices/cracks as well as the powder.. there are mites EVERYWHERE... I only have to touch the house or run and I am covered in mites - it is horribly itchy.. I dread to think how the chickens are coping... I feel a failure as I can't keep the mite concentrations low if not at bay.... so... if I spend the money on diatom and poultry shield - will it work?? Don't forget to put all your clothes in the washer and go for a shower after you've been near the house as if they are on you they could be retransmitted back to the house next time you go in. Good Luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daisy & Hattie Posted August 8, 2008 Share Posted August 8, 2008 Oh I am so itchy now after reading all of these posts. Have had my chooks for a year now and so far have had no mites (touch wood). All I use is the Diatom, at the end of the roosting bars and in the nesting box. When I clean the roosting bars I soak them in a bath of hot water and disenfectant before scrubbing and inspecting. I never realised that that they could live like that in plastic housing. Glad I dismantled the eglu a fortnight ago and cleaned it with the jet wash. Must go, still itchy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted August 8, 2008 Share Posted August 8, 2008 mum3boys, please be very careful when using Jeyes Fluid - it is toxic to lots of critters, chooks and cats especially. After a conversation with Louise about this, I emptied my container of it down a closed drain rather than keep it near my animals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
urbanchick Posted August 21, 2008 Author Share Posted August 21, 2008 HERE'S AN UPDATE FOR YOU ALL Well I returned from holiday on Monday and things are alot better. My neighbour fitted the plastic roosting bars and I had put redmite powder on the girls before I left. They have all put on weight and look much healthier. I saw some mites crawling around at night so they were still there but I think cleaning them out night before I went away and the plastic bars had greatly reduced their number, so the hens weren't being bled dry at night. I got some poultry shield and diatom (flytesofancy - came in 24 hours!) and cleaned the cube, smearing diatom powder on all the surfaces and in the crevices. I didn't see any crawling mites at night after that and I know the diatom would have killed them off within a couple of days. Today I got 4 eggs!!! That has not happened for a few months. I am sure it was the redmite that killed Lady as they were all losing weight and I could not understand why. She was just getting weaker and weaker. The eggs from my usually reliable gingernut rangers were breaking all the time and had really thin shells and Henrietta the ex batt who was laying to start with had only occasional softies, but has been laying proper eggs while I was away. I think it was caused by 2 things. The ex battery hens brought it with them and then I started to cover the run a few months ago (neighbour's complaining about noise in the mornings, environmental health and everything, still a nightmare) which kept things dark and moist and ventilation was reduced. In my case I found the greatest concentration of the mites at the end of the wooden bars (get plastic everyone) and where the nest box divider slots into the cube. I was hosing them out in their thousands from the crevices where the the cube is put together. When I look in the nesting box at night with a torch they were crawling around. So please be vigilant, especially when bringing in ex battery hens. I will keep sprinkling diatom in the cube now and use poultry shield to clean, which I am pretty sure will stop it happening again. Wish I'd taken preventative steps before (diatom probably the best) but I was not aware of anyone having a problem in a plastic house so really didn't think it was likely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poplars Posted August 21, 2008 Share Posted August 21, 2008 I know that it is nearly over for you now, but just to confirm, I have had redmite a few times in our eglu (mark I ) but with a spray of a pressure washer and a bit of red mite powder they are usually gone quite quickly! Eve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
