New hens not going into Eglu Go Up

[jenkey]

Discovered red mite yesterday for the first time when I saw several live mites on a freshly laid egg. We immediately emptied out all of the bedding from the house and pressure washed then used poultry sheild. Diamtommed everywhere and the birds too. In the actual house I only saw a few in the bottom layer of newspaper. Unfortunately I had to go in and deal with the children and my dippy dh left the 3 black bags of used bedding just open on the ground next to the WIR So this morning when I saw them there I went to tie them up and after my hands, arms and clothes were crawling with them all, they were all over me. I took all clothes off and put them straight into the machine on a hot wash. Now freaking out as I know I saw some on me earlier in the week after I picked up a bird but didn't clock what they were then and thought they were something from the garden. All week my head has been irritated with loads of tiny spots and it's very itchy.

 

I've been reading up horror stories on the net about red mites infesting people and houses and I've got myself in a state. Can't stop scratching and feel too scared to go back in the run with the chickens cos of the mites. I know I'm probably not being rational but I just don't know what to do next.

[Chucky Mama]

There is masses of info Here

[Redwing]

I've had them in my sofa but did manage to get rid of them using the very exellent 'RIP Fleas' spray

 

Do a few treatments on the coop as you need to get the mites at different parts of the life cycle to eradicate them, stripping off is a good idea (just inside the doorway is best if you dont neighbours overlooking your house) mites travel very well on shoes so dont overlook this, an old pair of washable beach clog/crocs shoes are best to wear in the meantime

[jenkey]

thank you, I feel calmer now. I think I freaked a bit as I had read everything on red mites before getting chooks and felt quite prepared but one thing I hadn't clocked is that they crawl all over humans too! it is quite frightening when you look at your clothes and they are everywhere. Onwards and upwards hey?! and hoping for a cold snap to send the little critters for a long winter sleep.

[Snowy]

One thing I always do now after finding them all over my compost bin, is drown everything in poultry shield before even starting to clean out. I give it an hour to kill everything, then I go and take out all the bedding etc, give it another spray and wait, then wash down and spray again before putting in new bedding. Triple whammy

[jenkey]

thank you Snowy, I like the idea of blasting them with poultry shield before removing the bedding. All of the bedding is now in an incinerator and we have re-diatommed all of the birds as well. After my experience earlier I was expecting to be crawling with mites after picking up the girls but weirdly there didn't appear to be any on me. Have bunged all clothing straight into the washing machine as a precaution.