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

[Grandmashazzie]

We have been away on holiday and have returned to really bad case of red mite. Classic and Go Up have been power washed and dusted with Diamoteous ( ? Spelling ) Earth, birds dusted last 3 nights with same. The wooden coop has been similarly treated plus a smoke bomb and is still alive. We have now broken it up and ordered a cube My question is what do I do with the wood chip covered run? Do the little blighters live in that as well. Also WIR is wood framed, I am now feeling a bit paranoid about mites. Is it enough that we continue dusting down plastic up,classic and cube.? It is a big job to remove wood chips and surely you would never get them all. I have Jeyes fluid to douse area with, this was recommended by place I get food.

[The Dogmother]

Don't use Jeyes Fluid; it's toxic to lots of wildlife and cats too.

 

Treat every 3 days with Total Mite KIll pink spray (refill with the concentrate diluted 1:10 with water)dust with Buz Busters louse powder. Repeat every 3 days until you have knocked it back, then use as part of your weekly routine.

 

Do you use a preventative spot-on with your birds? If you use this quarterly, then it ought to prevent red mites in the housing as well as lice on the birds.

 

Good luck!

[Grandmashazzie]

Thank you DM, I have read your other posts and have ordered Ivermectin Eprinex for the little darlings. Oops Jeyes Fluid down already but I won't use again if that's the case. Presumably the eggs could be given to the dogs during withdrawal rather than binning them?

[The Dogmother]

I always do that

[Beantree]

I've found a fine jet steam cleaner will clear a wooden coop of mites in one thorough treatment Grandmashazzie. Problem remains that some will be carried on the hens and re-infest the coop and we've not had any success with powders. Now we simply remove the perches early every morning and squash all the mites on it. Eventually there are none left.

[Grandmashazzie]

Oh thank you Beantree, my wooden coop has been burnt. I will continue to pressure wash wooden perches and dust birds. Egg production is up. They have been feasting on mealworms,cod liver oil and nutri drops. I will maintain a more vigorous cleaning routine. I think it took over when we were away.