Snowy Posted August 27, 2009 Share Posted August 27, 2009 Ah - thanks. My tree is covered (no birds) and has been lopped in half so I could fit the roof on the run. I'll make sure it also gets dosed when I do the cube. So far I haven't seen any evidence on it, and looks like I am winning the cube war - although I saw a lot today, they have all been tiny newbies, no big uns. I'll zap it all again in 3 days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted August 27, 2009 Share Posted August 27, 2009 Great news Snowy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abwsco Posted August 27, 2009 Share Posted August 27, 2009 I've an apple tree over their run and trees from neighbours are also over my coop. I can't and won't cut them down. The apple tree is over 40 years old and still producing fabulous cooking apples. I had one case of red mite last year and one this BUT on both occasions I think my vigilence on checking daily must have served me well as there were only small amounts of mite and only viewable when sprayed with PS. The only cluster was the size of a 5p. I did go in for the attack every day for a couple of days, then every three and then weekly though. Reminds me I need to get some more PS as I tend to go like a woman possessed when I use it Does anyone know if you could put PS in a pressure washer as that would be really satisfying? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chick wiggle Posted August 27, 2009 Share Posted August 27, 2009 Should I get some total mite kill as well? I clean the cube twice a week, once a week giving it a really good scrub, poultry shield it, diatom it and then use red mite powder. i also give the girls a dusting of red mite powder every 3 - 4 weeks. So far so good, but, prevention is better than cure, so should I get some and if so where from? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted August 27, 2009 Share Posted August 27, 2009 You can use it in one of those pump spray things, not sure about a pressure washer though. be sure to wear a mask if you're doing that though. A friend sprays all the pens at her yard with one of those and then leaves it to dry. I'm glad you're not cutting the trees down; you just need to be more vigilant, that's all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abwsco Posted August 27, 2009 Share Posted August 27, 2009 Just asked DH and he doesn't think a pressue washer would work due to getting the concentration right Will carry on using the hand help pressure sprayer I think. The Total Mite kill sounds good but it's quite a bit dearer than PS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gamebird Posted August 27, 2009 Share Posted August 27, 2009 I must be really lucky at the moment. I have a wooden henhouse (Forhsam Ark), my chickens free range with wild birds and they live right underneath an Oak tree. They don't have any red mite or lice but I do thoroughly drench their house with Poultry Shield every week, dose the girls with Xeno 200 every 3 months and sprinkle liberal amounts of DE in their nesting box, on the ends of the roosting bars and on the floor. I'm hoping that I'm doing enough to keep the dreaded mite away and each day that passes without any sign of them is a bonus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted August 28, 2009 Share Posted August 28, 2009 Keeping on top of them does really help Gamebird. Like intestinal worms, some areas seem more prone than others to them. As I said, I am going to be trying out the Total Mite Kill stuff - I've just run out of Poultry Shield and will see what I think... not having mites *touches wood quickly* it's not really a fair trial though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted August 28, 2009 Share Posted August 28, 2009 ............I'm obviously not quite on top form this morning.............I read PS & registered purple spray rather than poultry shield .......my daft little braincell was rattling around thinking the PS would stain the mites an easier to see colour My cubes and eglus have a copper beech, tulip tree, white poplar, willow and a huge sycamore all hanging over/next to them.....my fingers are firmly crossed in addition to the recent purchase of a bottle of PS & a huge bucket of diatom......... Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
