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

[bronze]

Today I found two of my girls dead and one about to die. I have since found the start of a red mite infestation but am unsure if the redmite killed them (unlikely as I've only just noticed it) or something else. The three dead ones are the ones who slept in the nest box so I don't know if theres a correlation and am playing detective. I know I haven't been paying them as much attention as normal but they have still had standard care so am mystified. Anyway am feeding Izy now but will be back off out in a mo to carry on stripping their place apart

 

RIP Henrietta (had from chick)

Nell (my first hatch)

Judy (an original girl-the last)

[bronze]

Ok am feeling worse. Taken the cube completely apart if theres a screw its undone.. Theres mites litving in the screw holes of the screws from places liek the wheels which I dont take off everytime I jetwash it. I Feel so so guilty. and very very itchy. It feels like an overwhelming job. anyway back to it

Edited August 17, 2009 by Guest

[Busybird]

So sorry Bronze - how awful for you

 

You can't be expected to take the chooks housing entirely apart every time you clean it. Good luck getting rid of the infestation.

[BeckyBoo]

Oh I'm so sorry, but DON'T FEEL GUILTY. I've never taken my cube apart from the day I had it, it gets cleaned but it's never been apart. It's just one of those darned things, I wonder if the weather has been good for them as I think Poet had red mite a while back - mine are off lay so I'm off now to have a good look round my cube.

You're an excellent chicken keeper and you know it, red mite can happen anywhere and you, as well as anyone, know how well chickens can hide illness.

 

Good luck with stripping and cleaning, and lots of love

 

BeckyBoo

[ClaireG]

I'm so sorry Bron

[Olly]

So, so sorry - but don't feel guilty, I have NEVER taken the Cube apart nor would I unless I suspected something like this. Apparently it's been a particularly bad (or is that good) year for redmite.

 

Your original girl may just have died of old age, I lost one of mine a couple of months ago who was a similar age.

[legend21]

I am with the rest, I have not ever taken mine apart, now I am off to check on them inbetween rain spells. So sorry.

 

Jackie

[bronze]

The good news is that the report I got back about Nell was wrong and shes still alive... just. So I've treated her, shes looks white but is in fact black and white, given her some water and left her to gain some strength

[quickcluck]

Glad to hear Nell is feeling a tad better, I hope she continues to make a full recovery......

 

I'm so pleased there is something good in your day

[chocolateeclaire]

While this forum is great for giving you information I worry that I am now getting too much!!!!

I shall now worry that my hens are going to die if I dont strip my CUBE now to the bare bones at least once a week!!!!!

I brought a CUBE because I thought it would be nice and easy to clean now I shall have to get out my magnifying glass and inspect for mites!!!

Very worried

Claire

[BeckyBoo]

While this forum is great for giving you information I worry that I am now getting too much!!!!

I shall now worry that my hens are going to die if I dont strip my CUBE now to the bare bones at least once a week!!!!!

I brought a CUBE because I thought it would be nice and easy to clean now I shall have to get out my magnifying glass and inspect for mites!!!

Very worried

Claire

 

 

Don't be very worried, red mite seems to be bad this year, but I've never taken mine apart in two and a half years, in fact I'm now a lazy hen keeper and only wash it out when it's really minging, mostly it just gets a s"Ooops, word censored!"e down and mostly my hens have been fine. And in any case however hard it is to clean a cube it's ten times as hard with a wooden house.

Use mite powder and sprinkle the roosting bars and nest when you clean if you're worried - that's what I do.

You can't prepare or prevent everything

 

BeckyBoo

[bronze]

I do take mine apart monthly. I've put mine in the eglu for tonight but am worried about them spreading them into that and not being able to get rid. There are areas that you can't get to and it worries me

 

Anyway we have other problems regarding it and are talking to omlet so I best stop now and see what the outcome is.

[chick wiggle]

Oh Bron, please dont say you feel guilty, as an experienced chicken keeper you know these things happen and you'll scare us newbies who are not as experienced . I too, have never taken my cube apart and so far, touch wood, no red mite although they did have lice. Im so sorry this has happened to you. Good luck and lots of hugs

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Sorry to hear this, Bron . How sad about your two girls . I agree though, don't feel guilty. These things just happen . I hope Nell improves .

 

"Ooops, word censored!"ody would keep chickens in a cube or eglu if you had to take it apart to the bare bones every week to clean it .

[bronze]

have to admit I'm losing faith in omlet. I don't have the energy to cope with the problems we have on top of physically trying to sort them so have got DH dealing with the office

[bronze]

well they never got back to use properly regarding our pretty serious problem. I don't know what to do and am frankly o-qed off. They did reply to our emails but the answers were so stock sounding and didn't actually help us at all.

 

Well thats one cube down the drain and 8 homeless chickens

[xScrunchee]

 

I think that Omlet have now grown too big to give each customer outstanding service.

Happens a lot in my opinion, companies start off small and caring trying to keep the customer happy but once they grow and grow they are making enough money to not give a fig for individuals

 

I hope that you and your OH don't give up. Fight the fight and try to make them listen

[CluckyBucks]

Good news about your hen i hope the infestation gets sorted quickly.

 

xx xx

[BeckyBoo]

Hi Bronze, I hope you have a better day today and that all your hens stay healthy. And I really hope you're not so down as yesterday, surely the cube isn't down the drain, hopefully that was just an exhausting day talking.

 

Sending you lots of love and best wishes,

 

BeckyBoo

[Chicken Licken]

I am a bit mite and lice paranoid. When I celan the eglu I spray all the bits I can't get at (joins, screws etc) with the Johnson's anti mite and then leave it to air before putting it back together. The girls have no signs of lice/ mites at the mo and it gives me peace of mind - I don't think it does the plastic any harm at all.

 

Hope your poorly girl is feeling better - hugs to you

[Seagazer]

Bron I'm so sorry to hear about your two girls. I hope Nell is doing better.

 

We've never taken it completely apart either, please don't think that you're to blame. It could happen to any of us.

[bronze]

It gets worse see my other thread

[xScrunchee]

Just read your other thread Bron.

 

So-what have Omlet said?

I presume that they are not offering to replace your cube with one that hasn't got so many air bubble holes?? That is what I think they should do!!

 

Cubes cost a heck of a lot of money for a hen house which seems to be as much trouble as a wooden one-if not worse!!!

 

I would suggest using Raid crawling insect killer. It is like the Raid fly spray in a blue can but this one comes in a red can.

 

You can get it from supermarkets and it's only a couple of £'s so maybe get a few cans and spray like mad into every hole and bubble.

 

It works for up to 6 weeks.

 

Being that you can keep your girls in the Eglu for a few days-it will have time to dry out and for the fumes to go.

 

I hope that Omlet help you although I fear they may not