4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[Jenny Smedley]

Hi ,

 

Everytime I do anything with my chickens I later seem to have a few crawling bugs on me ( exposed skin , particularly arms) - they are greyish & about the size of a full stop .......

 

I can't see anything obvious on my chickens or hen house but can anyone tell me what these bugs are ? Are they red mite before biting & filling with blood ?

 

I intend to have a clean out of hens & cube but would appreciate an identity so I use the right/most effective products.

 

Thanks, Jenny Smedley

 

p.s. as you can see, I don't use this forum very often - usually when I have a problem - but thanks to everyone who run it & contribute- it really helps!

[Guest]

having the same probem, will be interested in the replies.

[Redwing]

Yes they are red mite

[Guest]

struth, we've been battling them for what feels like forever

[Jenny Smedley]

Hi,

thanks for that - they must be tough as all my chooks are treated with Xeno200 & I use Poultry shield.

 

How often should I use the xeno 200 , both generally & when there is a red mite infestation?

 

Also I treated my wooden bars a couple of months ago with Plastidip ( http://www.plastidip.co.uk) to prevent red mite - it comes as paint ( fine if you are DIY minded) or a spray ( easier to use) . There is a good choice of colours & a clear.

 

Thanks, Jenny Smedley

[Redwing]

Don't take it personally I have the same routine as you and still have them in two of my Eglus (that have plastic bars) - its a bad year for them as I understand it

 

The fact that they are grey indicates they havent fed recently, they should die when biting the chickens as the chickens have been treated with Xeno

 

Unfortunately they multiply at such a rate so thats why you are seeing them

 

I believe the life cycle is a week so you should do a thorough clean and spray weekly, I am not taking chances and am doing it every fours days till they are gone

 

I applied two treatments of Xeno one week apart (not licenced for poultry in the UK, observe the egg withdrawl period)

[The Dogmother]

Could also be Northern Fowl Mites - they will crawl on and bite humans, but not live on them. Tiny dark grey thingies

[Guest]

i think ours are NFM, they have a white spot on their back. will spray with pyrethrum later.

[bronze]

I need something more toxic to spray my wir run etc with. I can keep the chickens out for a period of time so any ideas?

[Jenny Smedley]

Hi ,

With the help of glasses & a magnifying glass I've found that what looked like dirty patches are actually moving!! I'm pretty sure that they are red mites & there seems to be millions of them!!

 

Guess what I'm doing tomorrow!!

 

Thanks to everyone for their help.

[The Dogmother]

I need something more toxic to spray my wir run etc with. I can keep the chickens out for a period of time so any ideas?

 

Net-Tex have brought out a new housing spray, which contains permethrin (pink I think) and it's said to be very good.

 

Edit, after a serach, found these links; It's called Total Mite Kill, just couldn't remember the name until I saw it.

 

http://www.ascott-dairy.co.uk/acatalog/Net-Tex-Total-Mite-Kill-Liquid-Concentrate-500ml-MD140.html

 

https://www.millbryhill.co.uk/small-holder-533/poultry-products-654/poultry-care-vet-products-665/liquid-poultry-products-22767.htm

[Guest]

we bought this lot the other week

 

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=3128945&l=1d92b45c8e&id=568396756