Mite-mare

[melons]

OMG, we are looking after my neighbours chickens for 2 weeks, tonight (2nd night in charge)I discovered the most horrendous red mite infestation I think possible, I now know that the creepy crawlies which I've sent off to an Entomologist that I found on my hen house aren't the real thing! I still don't know what they are, he's on a field trip, (they are still in a bag waiting for him to get back), but I now "KNOW" what red mites look like...billions of them.
So I've spent the night getting all their bedding out & burning it along with the rest of their bale of hay which rests in the hen house roof, I've soaked the house poultry shield, the girls are completely white with red mite dust powder & I'll repeat the whole thing till I'm on top of it I suppose?
The poor girls, I've also had to make them a quick perch, as they don't have one, at least they can get up in the air a bit from the onslaught, they are all stood on their new perch looking a bit dazed & dusty. I've bedded them down on shredded paper for their nest & floor, as I was told the mites don't like paper much either, I'll try anything.
They always said they never laid many eggs, I'm not suprised :cry:
So now I've got a watering can to wash my feet each time I come back into our garden to try & limit the risk of us getting them, but I recon it's inevitable now :cry:

[AnnaB]

melons
You're on Wendy's site? What about Diatomaceous Earth - I've bought some and all the others feel its really great.

[melons]

Superdooper, I'll try that too, yes I do post occasionally on Wendy's forum, they are very sweet.
Cheers for your help.

[melons]

I've nearly finished my super blitzing of next doors hen house.
This is what I've done so far:
I've cleaned it all out & burnt all their bedding, sprayed with poultry shield & dettol, covered the girls in red mite powder.
Then I went onto a higher level of kill mode & blowtorched the whole house out, then re-sprayed with poultry shield leaving it dripping wet, then discovered they also has lice , so also covered them in louse powder, laid newspaper on the floor & used shredded paper as bedding instead of their hay (all burnt) given them a perch to sit on too
Last night I went out late in the dark & did the kitchen paper test under the perches, & had a really good look round with the torch, NOT ONE MITE YEAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.
They are getting their bedding burnt again tonight, then another poultry shield soaking for good measure this weekend, then I have to explain why their hen house is a shadow of it's former self next weekend
This approach has been a bit of every ones sugestions, It's worked for me / them

Mel

the Diatom is also on order.

[wendy]

Poor little hens, you have worked well Mel.
I hope they appreciate it.
Lets hope you have done the trick.
Wendy

[PK]

I can't imagine any mite surviving that onslaught, mel. Should keep it clear for a few days :wink:

[Morgs]

....I am spending too much time on this forum - I woke up in a cold sweat last night from dreaming that my chooks had red mite!

[Mo]

When do your neighbours come back, Mel? Let us know how they react to all your hard work.

[melons]

My neighbours come back on the 5th of August, they should be ok with it all, especially if the girls lay some more eggs.
I'm going start by blaming the weather, then just be a diplomat & explain what why & when. The girls are happier too

On the subject of dreaming about chickens....apparently I woke up on friday night, pointed at the telly & shouted that "I can't see through the chicken wire" got up wandered off to the loo, back to bed, sound asleep again, I remember nothing of this, OH thinks it's hilarious!
No wine had been consumed either
So maybe they do occupy my mind a lot, but then that was the point in getting them, to spoil them rotten.

[b_cos_1_can]

On the subject of dreaming about chickens....apparently I woke up on friday night, pointed at the telly & shouted that "I can't see through the chicken wire" got up wandered off to the loo, back to bed, sound asleep again, I remember nothing of this, OH thinks it's hilarious!

*rofl* i just choked on my cereal nice one!!

[Richard]

The first rule of thumb with mites is - don't have a chicken house with roofing felt they say.

Any nook, cranny or gap underneath is heaven for mites. It's dry, warm, cosy and ideal nesting for them.

A Vet told me that if you take any roofing felt off, the mite problem will still be there, but just a small problem.

Don't know how well you get on with the neighbours though!!

[PK]

I had a mild outbreak earlier in the year and used mite powder in the coop which seemed to eliminate it. I can across the suggestion to spray WD40 in likely locations where it is effective in penetrating cracks etc. I have subsequently tried and there has not been any re-infestation apparent. I have o idea what is in WD40 but the hens seem okay. It must be a lot better than the oft-recommended creosote.

Phil

[Richard]

Slightly off topic, but I read a post in a Moped Forum called 'How many uses for WD40'.
There must have been over 100 replies, but nothing about Chicken Coops

Bit like furniture polish.

I think the Felt thing is only when there are air gaps. If it isn't absolutely sealed rigid tight, the mites can get in. They are small after all.

[manda]

If anyone is looking for a chemical free method of dealing with spider mites I found this...I haven't used it yet as I haven't had them.... yet.

Combine 1/2 cup buttermilk, 4 cups wheat flour and 5 gallons water. Pour liquid into spray bottle. Spray a fine mist.

This apparently suffocates spider mites and other mites. So if anyone decides to try it let me know if it worked and if I'm unlucky and get them I'll let you know.

[manda]

I did just think I don't know what the clean up would be like becasue of the flour but I gues it would let you see where you had sprayed and whether you had got it all!!