Chicken bald back

[emmalou]

We have acquired a chicken house which we have part cleaned and refurbished. Before our new birds arrive it needs a good deep clean but should I use the mite spray as well before they arrive just in case? There is also a few ants that keep appearing in the house. Is this a problem or will they disappear once the chickens arrive?

[Beantree]

Hi Emmalou. One of the early signs of red mite is the presence of ants. The ants feed on red mite but unfortunately can't get to them all because of small gaps. At this stage it is very important that you don't put chickens in there as the problem will compound. Red mite will also live on the chickens, so will keep dropping off and re-infest the coop. That can only be dealt with if you can remove the perch easily every day.

 

We don't use chemicals at all, because red mite evolve resistance very quickly, as our neighbour has discovered. The chemicals also kill ants very quickly, so that's one helper you would lose. Ants eat other small bugs as well and won't harm the chickens at all. The best weapon is a steam cleaner with a fine jet. Presumably your coop is wood so the heat won't be a problem. Get steam into all the fine joints and if you can take the coop apart all the better. Pay particular attention the the tongue-and-groove joints of weatherboarding. The mite hide in the top gap which can't be reached with chemicals unless the panels are upside down anyway.

 

You will know when you have killed all the mites because the ants will stop visiting.

[emmalou]

Hmm OK. There has not been any chickens in there for at least 4 years, so would they live that long if there is nothing in there? There is some greyish dirt in there but when I look on the internet it doesn't look like the same dirt and I cannot see any mites in there. The floor as some lino stuck down atm, should I take that up and just have the woodchip on the floor and do away with the lino? From what I have read many people do have ant problems and don't have mite issues.

[mullethunter]

I would remove the lino. It'll just give any nasties another place to hide

[Beantree]

As said, ants eat other bugs as well. I have read that red mite only survive 36 weeks without hosts, but other reports say 2 years. If you are certain there have been no poultry at all in 4 years I'd remove the lino and give a good scrub with Poultry Shield. Never use Jeyes Fluid as it leaves a very poisonous residue.

 

Ants are not a problem. They are eating something in the coop but definitely not the chickens. Could be dust mites.

 

Not sure the wood chip will be durable enough and may break up, hence the lino? The lino definitely needs to come off because it will harbour red mite. Can you seal the wood chip with several coats of paint? When you have chickens in a coop it's difficult to rectify major problems in it so you need to get it right first.

[Cat tails]

I would try to find a piece of metal sheeting to go on the bottom of the coop, or something similar. Maybe a bit of perspex? Easier to remove for cleaning. Most wooden coops have a metal pull out drawer. You don't need wood chips on the bottom of the coop. I line my poop drawer with newspaper, to make cleaning even easier.

[emmalou]

Yes, there has definately been no chickens in there since we moved in to the house so will be at least 4 years.I am not sure what is underneath the lino. Perspex may be tricky as it is an awkward shape. Is there anything else that is hygienic to put down? I am using Saniterpen for the cleaning and mite prevention and will probably red mite spray it afterwards as i want to ensure no nasties are living there. It seems the lino is in several small sections. If I line it with a new piece of lino in one section is that sufficient? Lino is more flexible to cut and work with. I will still get nasties even if I use something like perspex surely as the sides of the lining will be a breeding ground for mites?

[Cat tails]

To come back to the ant story.

Some wild birds are known to dust bathe in ant nests. They let themselves be covered in ants, who also excrete acid, which kills bugs. But the ants also actively remove any critters from the feathers.

 

Not that your chickens will be likely to the same.