Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[minature]

Hello all.

I have the usual summer problem with red mite but this year I cannot get rid of them.

First I tried smite and DE powder, them we blow torched the house and powdered, then poultry shield and powder, then blow torched again, then I borrowed a steamer and blasted every crevice , took the house apart as much as possible, poultry shielded everything again and powdered everything including the chickens,

I thought we had beaten them but this morning I find hundreds of them clumped in the DE powder at the edges, all alive and ready to go. Aaaaahhh

Where do I go from here, please help!

[Olly]

Er - buy an Eglu? Sorry - that's not much help, I know, but I've never had a red mite problem.

[The Dogmother]

Ditto wot She said ^ ^

 

I use Total Mite Kill Concentrate after I've cleaned the cube and eglu, then dust with Buz Busters powder... never have a problem.

[minature]

Lol, if i could afford one I would. Glad you have never had problems though.

I will get the products you have suggested and give it a go. Thanks for the advice x

[The Dogmother]

They are worth the extra dosh for the lack of repairs, maintenance and mite problems.

[miller30]

Don't give up I am fighting redmite this year never had it in my main coop in 5 years I have about 98 birds so is a bit of a battle I keep spraying every 5/7 days with poultry shield I don't bother measuring it im doing it at double strength you have to break the cycle of the eggs hatching or if you have somewhere to move the birds creosote the house inside and out kills eggs and mites straight away but just keep spraying they will go in the end I know a lot of my friends have redmite as well they seem to be more rampant this year leanne

[The Dogmother]

it is worse this year because of the damp spring we've had.

 

Leanne, try spraying with Total Mite Kill Concetrate as this contains permethrin, which actually kills mites rather than deterring them. It is s suspension, so you need to shake it up before diluting.

[jackian]

I had two wooden coups and this year I have had red mite in one for the first time after using DE all the time and spraying with anti red mite stuff every day in every nook and cranny until I got obsessed!!..I tried everything including spraying , dusting scrubbing , blowtorch ,power washer (which left the coup far too wet and took ages to dry out .)..Just as I thought they had gone I found more. that was the last straw .

...I took a sledge hammer too it and it went up our dump.That left us with our reserve so we have had 4 sleeping snuggly in a coup meant for 2.I ordered with a lot of thought a lovely recycled plastic coup which is meant for 6 and would hold my 4 and all their friends for a party ...

... It arrived a week ago and they won't go in it !!

Now I have found mite this morning in the reserve one so after this evening they are going to have no choice ,I feel another trip to the dump coming on .

 

Jackie

[paulad]

CAN U SEE THE RED MITE REALLY EASILY THEN ??

 

WE HAVE A WOODEN COOP (HUBBY OUTTA WORK SO NO WAY WE CAN AFFORD AN EGLU)

 

I DREAD GETTING RED MITE !

[jackian]

It looks like dust and they come out at night .If you run a piece of kitchen roll along the end of rungs in paticular , best first thing in the morning you will see little smears of blood.

They hide in the roof as well i think,It is the first time in 3 years that I have had them .Some one also said that they are attracted to coups with roof felt on . you can get them in plastic coups but the coups are easierr to clean and dry.

[paulad]

THANKS - I HAVE BEEN KEEPING MY EYES OUT FOR THEM BUT WASNT 100% SURE WHAT I WAS LOOKING FOR.

 

WE SPRAY LIKE MAD AND DUST TOO - WILL HAVE ANOTHER LOOK TONIGHT.

 

THANKS

[The Dogmother]

While the weather is good, it is worth taking the whole coop apart, jet wash, allow it to dry in the sun (which will kill bacteria and mites) then spray and powder every crevice before putting it back together. I try to do this at least once each summer.

[mimi5]

Sorry to just repeat what everyone else has said....but my long battle last year with red mite in my wooden coop went the same way, sledge hammer and dump!!!!!! I tried everything!!!!Infact the coop went mouldy in the end as it never seemed to dry out properly!!! Chickens weren't in at by then, but it seemed a shame to get rid of it, it was only just over a year old!!!

 

I have a cube (full price from new ouch...but totally worth it ) and also a classic (secondhand off ebay ) They are both great, easy to clean, no real maintence to speak of and look good!!!

 

I would say look around for a secondhand plastic coop........maybe even try freecycle?? Doing battle with red mite is thankless

[The Dogmother]

I know a lady locally who ended up torching her wooden poultry sheds and buying 3 cubes! She's a happy bunny now.

[paulad]

Oh my goodness, didnt realise it was sure a problem to get rid of them,

 

Everything crossed we dont get this problem.

[gavclojak]

I have a cube, £€$ I know it's expensive but I sacrificed my mulberry bayswater on eBay and that helped towards the cost so touch wood(no pun intended!) no problems so far, I think I am a tad OTT though, I remove the doo doo daily and wipe the roosting bars with baby wipes and take apart every week, wash with soapy water then spray with poultry shield. I then spray everywhere with DE. Is that OTT or about right?

[minature]

I have scrubbed again today and sprayed everything, but mine don't just come out at night, they happy to show them selves anytime of day, in fact today I went down to the coop to clean up last night poop and they had covered it and were happily feeding off it .

For anyone who doesn't know what they look like they range from teeny tiny to about the size of a pin head and they can be pale grey, black or red if they have been feeding off your chickens.

I am really fed up but will keep on going. I will keep my eyes open for an eglu but I would need a cube as we have 7 chickens and they are big money

Min x

[The Dogmother]

Here's a pretty good photo.

 

[minature]

That is a good photo, it really made me itchy lol.

I went down to lock them up this eve and the house was crawling again I felt like crying.Well at least I know what I will be doing tomorrow!

[coco]

I had a bad red mite infestation last year. I found a product called choco perbio or something like that and it worked wonders. I also used total mite kill ready mixed spray and buzz busters powder every five days. It took a while but I did eventually get rid of them. They are back this year but in lesser numbers and hopefully I am managing to keep on top of them.

[The Dogmother]

Treating your hens with a spot on will not only keep them clear of lice, but it will also help to greatly reduce the amount of red mites in the coop.

 

Please be aware that it is very easy to transfer red mites to your own house on your clothes - you will need to have separate clothes (kept outside) for cleaning them out.

[minature]

I have heard about using spot on but don't know which brand to use or how much to use, any help greatly appreciated

[jackian]

I use the kitten one but I am not sure if it matters .I am sure it must work as my girls have not got anything but that could be just luck...First catch your chicken one of mine is a scaredy chick and I have a job to pick her up.I put it on the skin at the back of the neck .

My question is I use easi bed in my nest boxes .As I have had a night mare attack of red mite are they attracted to that easi bed being wood? What would others suggest instead ?

[hopingforchickens]

I second the creosote technique, it really does work on wooden houses x

[Olly]

Creosote isn't on sale to the general public any more, though.