Chicken boarders

[Jonesey]

Hi All,

 

I have an irritating problem in my chicken house with mites. They are the size of a pin head and appear to be black/dark in colour.

 

My chicken house houses 6-8 chickens, wood shaving as bedding and I close the door to lock then in each night at bed time.

 

The house is positioned in a secure large run and is fenced all round with wired mesh and roof.

Q1: Do I need to lock them in?

 

I remove the chicken poo from the house every day.

Q2: Do I need to do this?

 

Each time I scoop out the poo from the house I get covered in little mites and spend all night scraching.

Q3: How can I get rid of these little pests?

Q4: Presumably If I'm getting covered after just a few mins then the poor chickens must also be covered, how can I prevent/treat the chickens?

 

Q5: How can I control the environment after Ive cured this problem?

 

many thanks

[The Dogmother]

Have a look in the Chickens and Chicken Clinic sections of the forum; there are loads of threads there about dealing with red mites and general husbandry

[Sheilaz]

Sounds like Northern Fowl Mite , you have my sympathy.

I have just posted a new topic in Chicken Clinic with specific questions (no answers as yet) about the eradication on their human host, we can compare notes!

[Jonesey]

Today I waited for the girls to lay then all hell let loose! sectioned off a corner of the run and penned all the girls in it. Got a large bucket of tepid water and flee dog shampoo. One by one I bathed them and it was easier than I expected, I think the trick was to confine them into a small area so they were easier to pick up.

 

After the dunkin they all perched and faced the sun and got plenty of tanning time, meanwhile I stripped the hen house, Blow torched the lot then drowned everything in Red mite spray. I havent screwed everything back together as I shall repeat the house cleaning in 5-7 days time.

 

After I finished the house the hens were about dry so I smothered them in Red mite powder and one by one let them out of the small area.

The day took 6 hours to do all of this and although it was none stop Im pleased with my days work. Fingers crossed the hens appreciate it too!

joneseyChick

Posts: 16Joined: Mon Nov 14, 2011 4:35 pmLocation: Tamworth Staffs

[The Dogmother]

Well done, hope you win the war.