a- winters-tail Posted October 14, 2011 Share Posted October 14, 2011 Hi! I've had 4 ex batt hens 6 weeks - regular negative red mite swipe tests until tonight - swipe one - clear, swipe 2 - clear - swipe 3 - three blood spots and a live mite! I have powder and ready mixed spray - if I coat everything and replace all bedding will that be enough? And how often should one dust birdies and spray nooks and crannies as preventative measures as I cant seem to find any answers that agree with each other! help! *whimpers pitifully* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted October 14, 2011 Share Posted October 14, 2011 Take your coop apart and give it a thorough drenching with your red mite spray (Poultry Shield/Total Mite Kill). This will need to be repeated every few days until your infestation has gone to break the egg cycle. Diatom or a permethrin powder in the nest box bedding will help too. I don't know that there is a definitive answer as to how often you should spray/dust a coop and hens as a preventative measure. What are you planning to use as a dust on your hens? If it's the barrier red mite powder I think it claims to be effective for up to 6 weeks, but to be honest I don't see the point of the stuff, I don't think a hungry mite is going to be repelled by a terrifying smell. I expect you could use diatom every couple of weeks or so. To be honest, I think vigilance is your best weapon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muzzboy Posted October 14, 2011 Share Posted October 14, 2011 Interesting thread,was wondering what is a test swipe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted October 14, 2011 Share Posted October 14, 2011 Interesting thread,was wondering what is a test swipe. I assume running a piece of paper or kitchen roll along the perches and throughout the coop to get red mite to show up I agree with LB, the Barrier Red Mite smells nice but I don't think it does much good, I'd use Buz Busters or Diatom on the perches and in the nestbox, along with Total Mite Kill concentrate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muzzboy Posted October 15, 2011 Share Posted October 15, 2011 as easy as that shall try that when I get home thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
a- winters-tail Posted October 15, 2011 Author Share Posted October 15, 2011 I am presently filling EVERY cranny with wood glue, blasting the hell out of the coop with ready mixed mite spray, dusted the chickens (and myself again) and have burned all the bedding. Apparently I have to use very minimal bedding and repeat the burn and blast process every three days for two weeks, then that should kill them off. After that blast and dust once a week. Will see if it works, anyone like to place a bet on whether this is sound advice/ will work? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted October 15, 2011 Share Posted October 15, 2011 I now use ant killer powder ( which contains permethrin) regularly in the cracks and crevices. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
