Doris 12 Posted August 26, 2012 Share Posted August 26, 2012 Having battled Red Mite yet again this year, with no success in keeping on top of it, we have sadly decided to give up and send our girls off to a friends farm where they will be kept in isolation to begin with. Is it possible that our girls can pass on the mites to her girls, and also, can Red Mite get into the house and cause trouble there too, we also have a Dog. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted August 26, 2012 Share Posted August 26, 2012 How sad for you. Some can be carried on the chickens but I'm sure she'll treat them if you let her know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zakjon-98 Posted August 26, 2012 Share Posted August 26, 2012 Sorry you had to rehome them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dixie chick Posted August 27, 2012 Share Posted August 27, 2012 Red Mite has beaten me too this year. My lovely Speckled Sussex was broody a couple of weeks ago and spent so long in the nest box that she was literally sucked to death. Her comb went pale and even when I kept lifting her out she got more and more listless. I took her to the vet but she died en route.... The vet confirmed that she had succumbed to the red mite - they were all over her. SO sad and such a horrible death. I immediately went and ordered a plastic house for the others.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted August 28, 2012 Share Posted August 28, 2012 Sorry to hear that. Yes, red mites can be transmitted on the chickens so your friend will need to isolate and treat any she re-homes from you (as Plum has said). It is also possible for you and your dog to carry them into the house, so you will need to be vigilant. They are very active this year; the weather has been just right for them, so keeping on top of it with quarterly preventative treatment and treating the housing weekly with Total Mite Kill concentrate and Buz Busters powder is essential. I broody hen will need treating with a preventative and either powdering or spraying before setting on eggs. I usually mix a bit of Diatom in the the nesting material before setting the eggs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doris 12 Posted August 31, 2012 Author Share Posted August 31, 2012 I was rather worried about taking Red Mite over on the girls so phoned the Vet for advice. It seems that everything you can buy over the counter is useless except for frontline spray, have therefore just been and collected stuff from the Vet, which cost me a mere £1.02, and have been and sprayed the girls and house where they are in isolation. I wish i had phoned the Vet much much earlier, i may have been able to get on top of it and not got to the point of re-housing the girls Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted August 31, 2012 Share Posted August 31, 2012 Why don't you burn up your old house (I've assumed it is wooden) and get a plastic house? Though red mite can get into these they are very easy to keep clean and have so few nooks and crannies that if you keep on top of the cleaning you should easily stay red mite free. There are lots of plastic hen houses around from Omlet, to Green Frog, to Doodle House and others too. The designs really vary and as they keep well you can often pick them up on eBay. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coco Posted August 31, 2012 Share Posted August 31, 2012 Like you I have been battling red mite for ages. I have two seperate houses and runs the little house has banties in it and the WIR the big girls. I found had red mite in the little house earlier on this year but fingers crossed think I have beaten it with weekly spraying with poultry shield or total mite kill and loads of diatom I have found the odd mite on the girls but they are usually very small so hopefully I am on top of it. I found it in the big house tonight (very ****off] so out came the poultry shield at super strength. When I took the perches out there was a huge patch of the little blighters underneath it very satisfying watching them slide down the perch covered in poultry shield. Loads of diatom around the house and on the perches so fingers crossed I have caught them early. hopefully I am managing to keep them down to a level that if they are in the houses the chooks can cope wit, touchwood they are all fit and healthy. Hopefully you will be able to keep your girls Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted August 31, 2012 Share Posted August 31, 2012 Why don't you burn up your old house (I've assumed it is wooden) and get a plastic house? Though red mite can get into these they are very easy to keep clean and have so few nooks and crannies that if you keep on top of the cleaning you should easily stay red mite free. There are lots of plastic hen houses around from Omlet, to Green Frog, to Doodle House and others too. The designs really vary and as they keep well you can often pick them up on eBay. Just what I was thinking! I reported a while back that someone I know had had real problems with red mites in a succession of wooden sheds (they hadn't realised that the birds would transfer them) we had a long chat about eliminating them, when we next spoke she'd torched the sheds and bought a couple of cubes... money no problem I assume. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smartrus Posted September 1, 2012 Share Posted September 1, 2012 Hi, sorry to hear of the red mite trouble, I have heard such a wide variety of experiences, from those who really battle with it to those who have never had it! I have been lucky so far, I sprinkle powder round the edges of the wooden house and nest boxes (couldn't afford a plastic one!) when I clean it and dust the hens now and again. I have been told that too much use of the powder can make the mites immune. Is this true? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted September 1, 2012 Share Posted September 1, 2012 Depends on which powder you're using; Red Mite Powder is a deterrent only, Diatom has a mechanical action which can kill them, Buz Busters contains Permethrin which http://does kill them. I've not heard of over-use of any of them causing an immunity. I've used Buz Busters for the last few years, no mites and no problem with immunity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smartrus Posted September 1, 2012 Share Posted September 1, 2012 Thanks for that. Maybe when the powder runs out I will get a more active one. Hopefully they will continue to be fine. Keeping on top of cleaning has helped too. I am often heard going up the garden saying I'm off to poop pick! Who would have thought I would be saying that a year ago!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted September 1, 2012 Share Posted September 1, 2012 Giving regular treatments helps but it's vigilance that's key; they more regularly your check, the more easy it is to catch any mites quickly and nip it in the bud before you get a problem. Bit like kids with head lice; the more often you comb and check the easier it is to see them and take action. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted September 1, 2012 Share Posted September 1, 2012 Hi dogmother, i'm very interested in ' Bug Busters', not heard of that - where would I get this from. I usually use, poultry shield, Diatom & total mite kill. Bug busters sounds good. Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted September 2, 2012 Share Posted September 2, 2012 It's BuZ Busters (only one 'Z' on the first word. Comes in a shaker and larger tub; I have both and refill the shaker from the tub. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
