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[emmamakeup]

Hi everyone

 

Well i've managed to get myself on the road to having more chickens. I've purchased a wooden house for now but am paranoid about red mites. I've not even got my new chickens yet! I was thinking of buying red mite powder to scatter in the house at night - is this effective???

[surf_space]

We have a wooden coop and have not yet had any problems with red mites. We use Johnson's Red Mite Poultry Spray, which you spray all over the coop, especially in the corners and cracks, and it seems to be doing its job. It says it lasts up to six months without re spraying, however, we use it about once every month with no problems. Also its seams to be a lot less messy than powders. Not sure how effective the powder is, but thought I'd just give you another alternative

[jackian]

I have had my chickens for nearly 2 years and have two wooden coups. Touch wood I have never had red mite.

Like Surf_space I spray my coups about once a month and scatter powder on the floor. I do watch out for them all the time though .

[mimi5]

Hi there!

 

I think you are right to be paranoid!! I bought a new wooden coop last sept and hadn't had any problems with red mite......until this year!!! (It's a long story but I had bought a cube and a few more pekins so it did actually get left empty and unused for 6 months, until late summer when I put my mummy hen and chicks into it.)

 

Noticed that the chicks didn't want to go to bed...then them seemed off colour...a few days later ARGHH red mite!!! But really none and then lots!!!I wish now that I had been pre-treating it before the red mite arrived!!But on a positive note I have been using total mite kill (pink spray) seems to have done the job but you have to be relentless!! Also used diatom and the battles red mite powder on the chicks.

 

Apparently it builds up a residue in the wood if used regularly and continues to give protection. Coop now empty (Phew!!) as babies 20 weeks and have joined the adults.(intros...a whole other story!! )

[LottyJ1]

Dust all over with Diatom every week and that keeps the "Ooops, word censored!"s away!

[The Dogmother]

I have a full-on preventative treatment with Total Mite Kill Concentrate (I make it up in a watering can and rinse the housing with it after scrubbing) and then powdering with Buz Busters powder. Seems to work well for me.

 

It's always best to treat the housing and the broody before setting her on any eggs; she will be hot and as you're trying not to disturb her by cleaning out so regularly, the housing is likely to get infested.

[emmamakeup]

Thank you everyone. Got my coup today. Just need my other half to put it together. Off to get the girls on Thursday and will pick up some preventative treatment and powder at the same time. Really excited about it all. Used to have an Eglu which I regret selling as never thought I would be able to have chickens again.

[Lavenders_Blue]

Don't panic about the dreaded red mite. I've used wooden coops for 3 years and not had red mite yet. My next door neighbour did this summer, so maybe I have just been lucky?

 

I check regularly for RM and spray with Poultry Shield. I don't bother with the Barrier red mite powder (if that is what you are referring to). It smells lovely but won't do anything for red mite. Vigilence is your best weapon against red mite.

[The Dogmother]

I agree about the Red Mite Powder; it smells lovely but isn't much use apart from as a deterrent.