2009 Omlet cube and run for sale

[fluffypigs]

So the newbie chicken keeper has been thrown her first challenge in the form of mites. Based on info on this site, I have two choices - I can rush out now and buy some barrier red mite powder and embark on catching and dusting, or I can go to the vet tomorrow to try and get some Ivomec Eprinex which sounds a lot easier to administer, but which might take a while to arrive as I'm sure the vet won't have it in stock. I am interested to know how much the Ivomec Eprinex might cost compared to the powder? and whether it is worth the wait to get it delivered (I don't want to let the chickens suffer any longer than necessary). All advice gratefully received.

[Plum]

Heck you'd think they'd give up for the winter and hibernate or something.

 

If it was me I'd start by rushing out to Pets at Home and getting some Johnsons lice and mite spray then you can clean and dust the house with mite powder, diatom or whatever and if its not effective get the Ivomec.

[Egluntyne]

It is in the region of about £30 ... and **is not licensed for use on poultry in UK

[fluffypigs]

Thanks for your replies. The Johnsons spray sounds good but I am having trouble finding a local stockist. I am going to get some powder today as it seems to be all I can get, and if it doesn't work I will go to the vet.

Is there anything I can do to prevent reinfestation in the future, maybe give the girls a regular application of the powder as a preventative measure? Should I be treating the run area? Can the lice infect humans? Sorry about all the questions!

[Plum]

Most pet shops do the Johnsons spray

http://countryfayre-countrystore.co.uk/health-and-husbandry/johnsons-anti-mite-spray-100ml/prod_562.html

 

Although you can get the odd bite if there is a heavy infestation I don't think they infect humans. I use poultryshield to spray around their house to prevent mites and diatom in the nesting material. I don't think you need to treat the run.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=poultry+shield&tag=googhydr-21&index=aps&hvadid=6182437249&ref=pd_sl_4mhycgwvno_b

 

There is a very long thread with loads of advice about treating and preventing red mite at top of this section which will suggest a lot of other products and ways of managing

[Patricia W]

If its red mite ( surprised in this weather but they are tough beasties) our vet gave us a flea spray with permethrin and advised us to treat the house and not the chicken as they don't live on the chicken but in the house. We had to clean it thoroughly and spray every nook and crannie, and then repeat after a week. It worked.

 

Following advice on here, I now use ant powder ( which has permethrin in ) when I give the cube a good scrub. Much cheaper! Watch out though if you have cats- it's toxic to them

[The Dogmother]

It is in the region of about £30 ... and **is not licensed for use on poultry in UK

 

It's as Egluntyne has said, and is for a 250ml bottle, which will last you an age!

 

If you're having trouble getting the Johnson's spray, try the Nettex one - that contains permethrin too *not licensed for use on poultry in the UK.

 

 

Buz Busters powder (also in a big tub) also contains permethrin and can be used on the housing instead of ant powder

 

[Jools]

 

Just a word of warning, this product is for use on the house and NOT on your poultry. I bought some a couple of months ago to tackle Northern Fowl Mite and there's a warning on the can to that effect. When I queried it with Nettex, they confirmed it's for the house only.