clucky chicken Posted July 12, 2010 Share Posted July 12, 2010 Hi There everybody - please can anyone help me - I went on holiday last week and have just got back to find we have a huge infestation of red mites in my wooden coop - am trying desperately to get some Poultry shield to clean out the house but can find none in my area - I live in Chippenham, Wilts. Have tried in vane all my local pet shops/country stores but no one seems to keep it - I need some today realisticly as my poor little chickies are really suffering - I will have to keep them in their run today and tonight as I keep power washing the house but more mites just keep appearing! - Does anyone in my area know where I can get some please ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted July 12, 2010 Share Posted July 12, 2010 Sorry to hear about that There are two stickies about red mite and lice at the top of the chicken clinic section. May I say that I have found Nettex's Total Mite Kill concentrate to be more effective against all crawlies, perhaps you can find that locally to you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted July 12, 2010 Share Posted July 12, 2010 Try one of your local vets for some RIP Flea Spray which is very good against Red Mite Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clucky chicken Posted July 12, 2010 Author Share Posted July 12, 2010 Thanks Claret - I have read the sticky and following all information given to get rid of the pesky varmints!!! Isn't Nettex the one with the permethrin in it? - I'm told that it's harmful to cats and don't really want anything that could harm them - poorly chickens are enough!!! Local vets don't sell anything like it either - flea spray is the nearest thing they can offer, but they only sell small cans - which would work out very expensive if I'm to spray the whole coop with it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted July 12, 2010 Share Posted July 12, 2010 Most pet shops stock Johnson's Anti-mite spray, or you can buy it online, that one is very good too, as is the spray mentioned above by Chucky Mama. Permethrin is the only ingredient that will really get rid of the little critters, and so long as your cats aren't walking across it when it is wet, they will be fine. I have two cats and neither of them have been affected by it. I believe in belt and braces when it comes to prevention with parasite infestations; I clean the house then spray it with the Total Mite Kill spray, powder with Buz Busters powder and they seem to be clear of lice and mites except for one broody who has just been treated for lice. As you know, it is important to tackle these issues quickly so that their health isn't compromised by a really bad infestation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clucky chicken Posted July 12, 2010 Author Share Posted July 12, 2010 Thanks - OK will try the Total Mite Kill - I know my Countrywide stores sell this so will pop over after work and get some. In the meantime, will keep powerwashing them little varmints out and give my chickens a bath and then dust them vigorously with Red Mite Powder!!! Thanks for all your help! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted July 12, 2010 Share Posted July 12, 2010 That's OK, I have sent you a PM with a suggestion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karlotta Posted July 12, 2010 Share Posted July 12, 2010 Scats in Salisbury usually has Poultry Shield Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abwsco Posted July 12, 2010 Share Posted July 12, 2010 I'm afraid that power washing won't help. Do you have a steamer or can you borrow one? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools Posted July 12, 2010 Share Posted July 12, 2010 Abwsco is right, you need a steam cleaner not a power washer. There are a couple of stickied threads on the P P forum on the subject of red mite which should help. Apparantly the new formula Creocote works too (on the house, not the chooks lol) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
batcatz Posted July 13, 2010 Share Posted July 13, 2010 Diatom on and under the perches and in the nest box helps lots too. I used Poultry shield and sprayed every week, then when the wood was wet with that threw diatom powder all over. The walls end up being grey, but it kills the mites. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clucky chicken Posted July 15, 2010 Author Share Posted July 15, 2010 Thanks for your help everyone - managed to find some stuff similar to poultry shield in the end and have dismantled the coop completely and scrubbed it down and have been checking all the parts everyday since, just to make sure they're all dead - have also now dusted everything in sight with anti-mite powder - also bathed and dusted chooks with said powder - so house will go back together at weekend and hopefully will have no more problems - if all else fails - will be burning the wooden stuff and getting an eglu!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted July 15, 2010 Share Posted July 15, 2010 if all else fails - will be burning the wooden stuff and getting an eglu!!!!! jest not - I know someone who burned her three wooden sheds because of red mite and bought two cubes instead! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted July 16, 2010 Share Posted July 16, 2010 Make sure that anything that you use is not a repellant. Repellants don't kill insects, they repel them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools Posted July 16, 2010 Share Posted July 16, 2010 jest not - I know someone who burned her three wooden sheds because of red mite and bought two cubes instead! To be fair, there are wooden houses and there are wooden houses, just as there are different plastic houses on the market now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...