Used Omlet outdoor rabbit run Width 2.2m Height 2.05m Length 3.1m vgc.

[sandyhas3chucks]

My first Cube and it is in the big outside and under trees.

Never had in my Eglus (in cpvered WIR) but don't want to be complacent.

Do all the usual, although (long story) 2nd hand and the very front panel was not removed ,just hosed on arrival.

Since steamed( still assembled,,,,)where I can

Sprayed and plenty diatom

4 weeks on and no reason to think I have ,

But would like to be vigilant.

Aside from the usual looking in the dark, where might I look in the daytime for possibilities???

[UKMARCH]

I haven't had any but would think if any came it would be in the grey areas particularly dividing the nest box or where there are rough patches or small holes in the plastic. These fill up with dirt which having seen some photos on here that's what it looks like I just make sure I spray that and as I have replaced the nest box divider with a wooden two box one I take that out and treat that just in case.

[Snowy]

Around the nest box divider, up behind the metal plate above the door, under the back panel, on the ends of the perches (wood or plastic), under the metal plates that hold the front of the cube to the sides, in the grooves for teh roof to slide in. And when you think you have treated everywhere you can get to, they start coming out of the gaps between the walls and floor. If you don't treat all the bedding before you empty the cube, they fill the compost heap. In and around all the wooden perches in the walk in run. Best way to find them is to put your hand into the cube. They are attracted to body heat so you will soon find them swarming up your arm

[sandyhas3chucks]

ok nowhere specially hidden then, just in general.

Thanks for the tip about arm in....

Apart from OCD I have (naturally) seen small dots crawling on the outside.

 

Red Mite neurosis rules ok !

[The Dogmother]

Not had them in mine but then it's not near any wood to get 'infected'. I take it all apart twice a year, jet wash the lot, let it dry in the sunlight, spray with Total Mite Kill Concentrate and dust with Buz Busters before putting it back together again. I rinse with TMK and dust after every weekly clean too. Seems to work.

[Snowy]

I think thats what I need to do - take the whole thing apart. Otherwise they just hide in the gaps. I got them from foolishly rehoming a bird for a friend. It was covered in them, and no matter how many times i blitz the cube, they just come back again

[sandyhas3chucks]

I think thats what I need to do - take the whole thing apart. Otherwise they just hide in the gaps. I got them from foolishly rehoming a bird for a friend. It was covered in them, and no matter how many times i blitz the cube, they just come back again

I thought they only are/sucked the blood at night. not live on the bird?????? hey lived elsewhere and camre out just to suck blood????

[Louise 2905]

What is the best spray to use that won't stain the cube ? I have just got a cube after having red mite in my wood one and don't want them back ! but don't want to use something that will stain it !

[Snowy]

I think thats what I need to do - take the whole thing apart. Otherwise they just hide in the gaps. I got them from foolishly rehoming a bird for a friend. It was covered in them, and no matter how many times i blitz the cube, they just come back again

I thought they only are/sucked the blood at night. not live on the bird?????? hey lived elsewhere and camre out just to suck blood????

 

She had been broody when I received her, so because she was sat on the nest all the time, they were on her all the time. She was very anaemic The only reason they normally come out at night is because that is when their lunch is defenceless

[Snowy]

I use everything I can throw at mine, haven't seen one yet that stains it. Usually use Ardap spray (in conjunction with poultry shield, TMK and red mite powder) but there are others.

[The Dogmother]

What is the best spray to use that won't stain the cube ? I have just got a cube after having red mite in my wood one and don't want them back ! but don't want to use something that will stain it !

 

Any spray containing permethrin (such as Total Mite Kill pink spray) will kill them but you need to apply every couple of days and carry out an aggressive campaign until you're on top of it. It's actually cheaper to make up you own spray using TMK concentrate diluted as per instructions.

 

Snowy, I really feel for you; If you take it all apart, do it on a sunny day as the sunlight will disinfect it and kill off mites. I wash it with soapy water then make up TMK in a watering can and rinse it off with that. It leaves a residue which goes on killing the mites long after it has dried. I then powder it all before putting it back together.

[Snowy]

I need to have a few days of concerted attack on them!

[sandyhas3chucks]

I see snowy makes sense poor girl and now you.we have sunny day today. Good luck.

[UKMARCH]

Snowy sounds like a nightmare I might give everything a double check can you see them in the daylight? Don't think I'll be trying putting my hand in makes me itch just thinking about it! Hope you manage to sort it soon.

[Snowy]

Yes you can actually see them quite clearly, I think they are only hard to see because they do hide so well!

Well after my big clean last weekend, when I checked everything yesterday the blighters were everywhere again

So today I went on the attack. Everything got sprayed with poultryshield first and left for 20 minutes. Then all the bedding put into binbags and into the bin. Screwdriver out and dismantled the whole cube and the whole thing washed and scrubbed in poultryshield, wooden perches in the run drenched, the works. I was right, they were behind the metal plates of the cube, in the screw holes, between the panels - everywhere! No longer - I just need to keep on top of them now!

[The Dogmother]

Good for you Snowy if you find they're resistant to Poultry Shield then try Total Mite Kill Conc or one of the other permethrin based liquids.

[Snowy]

I have both DM - meant to use your trick of rinsing with the TMK when It was due to go back together but ran out of time, they were all queuing up to go to bed! Will do that next time. I did give it a good spary around with Ardap/TMK spray though once it was back together and before I let them go to bed.

[sandyhas3chucks]

steam it????

well done you for taking her on,what a total pain to have come with te nasty beasts !¬!¬!