Kit Posted April 22, 2009 Share Posted April 22, 2009 (edited) Hi Can somebody advise me please, I am beside myself and don't know what to do. I am constantly finding insect bites on my body after I have been near the eglu and run. Our hens have been dusted with mite and louse powder, I have checked them but I cannot find anything. They do free range 80% of the time and are surrounded by lots of other wild animals..like rabbits, pheasants, ducks and whole load of other birds. I have looked under their wings and near their bums, am I missing something? They may have to go if this keeps up as my body reacts quite badly to these bites. When it first happened I thought it was the cats and rentokil have been 3 times and concluded that I do not have fleas in the home and neither are the cats harbouring any. They have sprayed my house just in case. feeling quite down & sorry for my hens Kit Edited April 22, 2009 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted April 22, 2009 Share Posted April 22, 2009 OH and I have both been itchy to the point of distraction these last few weeks and it wasn't until a few days ago that I discovered we have red mite in our coop if we even lean against it we end up with mite on us and they make us sooooooooo itchy None of the chickens had any sign of crawlies but red mite do hide away when the daylight comes so there is little evidence of them However that coop is wooden and red mite is much more common in wooden coops and I certainly have never seen any in my Eglu Check under the edges of the roosting bars for any hidden mites, they are tiny when not filled up on blood so you have to look hard Perhaps a pressure wash followed by Poultry Shield then when dry a good dusting of red mite powder would do the trick (then strip down and chuck your clothes in the machine on a hot wash ) Of course it may not be red mite so don't panic - its just a suggestion Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted April 22, 2009 Share Posted April 22, 2009 I've got ant bites & knat bites from being in my veggie garden a bit too much early evening! Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kit Posted April 22, 2009 Author Share Posted April 22, 2009 Thanks is there something that we can eat to make us less attractive to these biting insects/ Kit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparkysmum Posted April 22, 2009 Share Posted April 22, 2009 Kit I've no ideas, just wanted to say how sorry I am to hear this. I hope you trace the source soon and you are able to find a solution. Axx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted April 23, 2009 Share Posted April 23, 2009 Yes, smear tiger balm on your wrists & ankles! Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Webmuppet Posted April 23, 2009 Share Posted April 23, 2009 If its mossie's/ gnats that are the problem when you go out to the garden you could try this: http://www.arnywear.co.uk/ LMW & I have used them - no bites at all when wearing our head squares! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitchens Posted April 23, 2009 Share Posted April 23, 2009 We are having a similar problem at the moment I look like i've been strawberry picking. I still haven't worked out what it is that is biting us but I am washing everything - hoovering - and itching!! Hate it. I'm becoming obsessed! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted April 23, 2009 Share Posted April 23, 2009 I don't want to worry you, but be aware that red mites can also live in your house and feed off your blood. When found indoors, they are known as bed bugs! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted April 23, 2009 Share Posted April 23, 2009 I've only had 3 from my gardening episode - no more since. So it's not Orchid the cat, mind you she's been well de flead & the chooks have weekly treatments at the moment! Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HENthusiastic Posted April 23, 2009 Share Posted April 23, 2009 I don't want to worry you, but be aware that red mites can also live in your house and feed off your blood. When found indoors, they are known as bed bugs! Really??? They are the same creature? Thats interesting. I thought bed bugs were much bigger than redmite? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mostin Posted April 23, 2009 Share Posted April 23, 2009 If you eat lots of garlic and take vit B12 supplements, that is meant to help keep bitey things away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted April 23, 2009 Share Posted April 23, 2009 If you eat lots of garlic and take vit B12 supplements, that is meant to help keep bitey things away. And everyone else too! HEN, someone on another poultry forum said that they are the same critter. I do know though that red mites can live in your house and feed off hoomans and pets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kit Posted April 23, 2009 Author Share Posted April 23, 2009 Ewwwwwwwwwwwwww thanks for all your replies..I am going to power wash my eglu and run now...thank goodness it is on concrete! Kit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stoice Posted April 23, 2009 Share Posted April 23, 2009 I don't want to worry you, but be aware that red mites can also live in your house and feed off your blood. When found indoors, they are known as bed bugs! Really??? They are the same creature? Thats interesting. I thought bed bugs were much bigger than redmite? Bed bugs are larger than fleas and really obvious (Especially after a night sucking your blood) Gross. I've been watching verminators on virgin 1 (For rat disposal ideas) and they were dealing with them all the time. They even squished them on the wall and they exploded. Sorry to put people off any lunch/coffee/tea etc. Nasty things Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kit Posted April 23, 2009 Author Share Posted April 23, 2009 Claret, et al Thanks for the tip...I have strip all the bedding and washed them at 90 degrees, duvet has gone off to dry cleaners and thank fully I see no bed bugs....... Went to GP today and he gave me some fucidin cream which is antibiotic and hydrocortisone to rub on them..I have a cluster of 10 to 12 on my upper arm. Kit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted April 23, 2009 Share Posted April 23, 2009 I think it was Gallina who got bitten by red mites a couple of years ago. I hope your bites calm down soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted April 23, 2009 Share Posted April 23, 2009 You sure it's not shingles? Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cluckbok Posted April 23, 2009 Share Posted April 23, 2009 Eeewwww you've all got me scratching!! I hope you get it sorted, horrible eh! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kit Posted April 24, 2009 Author Share Posted April 24, 2009 Emma Definitely not shingles....biting insects. I only have them on my legs and a small cluster on my upper arm. still cannot work out what it is. Rentokil gave me insect traps for the house and so far nothing has stuck to them so it must be outside. No signs of red mites in the eglu but I can see lots of little black flies that appears to jump and fly...I think fruit flies. Do they bite humans? Kit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted April 24, 2009 Share Posted April 24, 2009 I often find fruit flies in the pooo trays (and the wormeries too) but I've not seen them bite. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitchens Posted April 24, 2009 Share Posted April 24, 2009 No they don't bite. I've washed practically everything we own today. I'm still itching. Found something in our bed this morning so that got squahsed!! I think it might be fleas, but our dog doesn't have them and he is regularly frontline'd anyway, chickens don't get fleas so WHERE ARE THEY COMING FROM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicola O Posted April 24, 2009 Share Posted April 24, 2009 (edited) If you eat lots of garlic and take vit B12 supplements, that is meant to help keep bitey things away. And everyone else too! I heard on a radio program a few weeks ago that a tea-spoon of marmite everyday would stop the mozzies biting you. Mmmmmmm....marmite............ Nicola edited to add of course you eat it, not rub it on.... Edited April 24, 2009 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClaireG Posted April 24, 2009 Share Posted April 24, 2009 Avon skin so soft dry oil body spray (the green one) is really good against mossies, so may work with other biting things to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hilda-and-evadne Posted April 24, 2009 Share Posted April 24, 2009 Can somebody advise me please, I am beside myself and don't know what to do. I am constantly finding insect bites on my body Can you upload a photo of some of the bites? I am wondering if they could be fox mange mite which can't survive on humans but does bite. Thanks to our dustbins, foxes today survive for much longer than they would have done in the past while riddled with the mite and passing it on. Garlic tablets (eg from Holland & Barrett) could help prevent things from biting you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
