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

[Jennifer Jane]

Fingers crossed, we will be getting our hens (ex-bats) tomorrow, after a long, long wait. I am paranoid about read mite having read all the threads on this forum and was going to get poultry shield for cleaning the coop. (I've already dusted everywhere with red mite powder, including me and Mia the cat!) I was reading Practical Poultry yesterday and saw an ad for Total Mite Kill, which seems to have the same function as Poultry Shield, but kills more nasties. Has anyone tried this/have any opinions or advice for me, please?

 

I'm also worried about foxes, despite not having seen or heard any round here for years. Will a gravel border around the WIR be enough to deter them?

 

Thanks, JJ

[Redwing]

I really like Total Mite Kill, it seems to work very well

 

Poultry Sheild is also very good, is cheaper and has the benefit of being a disinfectant and cleaner too

 

The gravel around my WIR seems to keep foxes away, certainly there is evidence that they jump between raised beds rather than walk on the gravel but I doubt it could be called a fox proofing answer! It may help but your WIR must be secure in the first place

[Gelbel]

 

I'm also worried about foxes, despite not having seen or heard any round here for years. Will a gravel border around the WIR be enough to deter them?

 

Thanks, JJ

I posted this reply about foxes earlier in the week.

[Jennifer Jane]

Thanks for the replies, might give Total Mite Kill a try.

 

Our run is sort of "fox-proofed" by log roll round the outside but I was worried about them digging underneath. My idea was to put a border of slabs but hubby thought that would be too much work and as I have a delicate back I wouldn't be able to help much. My cats don't like walking on gravel either, but I wondered if foxes would actually dig through it. Gravel it is anyway, so we'll see - and I will tell him he has to water it as an extra measure!

[xScrunchee]

My OH weeing around the run made no difference

The fox pooed right where he had 'watered'.

 

Blimin things!!!