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Sparklepeeps
Joined: 17 Jan 2007
Posts: 1960
Location: Cheshire
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 Posted: Sat May 31, 2008 8:52 pm Post subject: Blood in the house! |
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I have found the hen house crawling with lice in the nest box section today when I was cleaning them out.
I also noticed some blood splattered up the inside of the house. Not a great deal, just a few smears and a few splattered spots in places. Now of course it could just have been that one of the girls cut themselves somewhere (Ive not seen any evidence so it cant be that bad), but I am wondering from anyone with experience of red mite, whether this is a common thing if they are being nibbled at night by the dreaded beasts.
I cleaned thoroughly, poultry shielded, mite powdered (underneath and on top of the sawdust) and frontlined three of the chickens I have yet to catch the other three!) |
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Itsybitsy
Joined: 11 Feb 2006
Posts: 1443
Location: Leicestershire
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| Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2008 8:14 am Post subject: |
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It will alomst certainly be red mite, lice live on the bird, red mite live in hidden cracks and just feed on the bird at night.
It's been the right weather for a sudden increase in the red mite population.
Their hidey places will be - somewhere conveniently close to the birds, interestingly in one of my houses the mite prefer one side of the perch.
Go into the house in the day with a strong torch, look for "silverish, greyish dust" - their droppings, if the house is tongue and grooved there will be a section where they will be congregating in the grooves, get a knife and run it down the grooves and then dust liberally with whatever you are using. Once you've found the "red mire" factory, always go straight there when on the hunt 
The dust (their droppings) will be very close to where they are - within inches, they wont be on the floor. So you may see them on the wall.
Itsybitsy |
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Sparklepeeps
Joined: 17 Jan 2007
Posts: 1960
Location: Cheshire
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| Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2008 9:11 pm Post subject: |
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| Damn. |
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Sparklepeeps
Joined: 17 Jan 2007
Posts: 1960
Location: Cheshire
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| Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2008 9:00 pm Post subject: |
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| I have sourced some creosote... from B&Q of all places. Apparently its a watered down version of the old fashioned stuff. But its better than nowt! Anyone ever heard of a product called F10, is a bird house disinfectant thats supposed to kill red mite (so a patient told me today) |
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CP
Moderator
Joined: 13 Apr 2005
Posts: 16087
Location: Hampshire
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| Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2008 10:50 pm Post subject: |
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I had this reply from a previous member when I asked the same question.
| Quote: | | You can only get it from interhatch as far as I know. It is wonderful. Kills bacteria and viruses and mould spores and much more. You can spray the birds, spray the housing, wash dishes in it, use it as a fogger in a nebuliser for them to breath in. |
Never used it myself though.  |
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Itsybitsy
Joined: 11 Feb 2006
Posts: 1443
Location: Leicestershire
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| Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2008 12:14 am Post subject: |
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The thing with creosote is that red mite have a hard shell and the solvents in old fashioned creosote softened the hard shell and killed them, apparently the new stuff does the same but it's the principle that counts, so something solvent based will do the job - used engine oil for example.
I have also found that red mite will reinfest a creosoted surface ( and this is old fashioned stuff) within days of it being painted. They don't like the pre treated wood though. But if your house is built with that then they just hide somewhere else - in the bedding for example.
Itsybitsy |
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Elly
Joined: 18 Apr 2008
Posts: 332
Location: Norfolk
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| Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2008 12:27 pm Post subject: |
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Have noticed people taliking about using Creosote and have been a bit concerned as I was certain it can be very poisonous to pets and wildlife
Have copied and pasted one item (found loads of them) I have found on this and thought I'd pass it on.
http://www.sixwise.com/newsletters/05/02/08/the_top_household_dangers_to_your_pets.htm
"Phenol and Phenol Derivatives, such as Pine-Sol and Lysol
Phenol and derivatives such as creosote, naphthol, wood tar and others
Especially toxic to cats
SYMPTOMS: Muscle twitches, depression, coma, respiratory distress, jaundice. Contact Vet immediately.
PREVENTION: Use safe home cleaning and other products instead of those with phenol (which is obtained from coal tar) and phenol derivatives. Read The Health Dangers of Phenols Found in Common Household Cleaners for more information on this important topic"
Might be worth looking for something a bit less toxic 
Keep smilin
Elly |
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Itsybitsy
Joined: 11 Feb 2006
Posts: 1443
Location: Leicestershire
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| Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2008 2:50 pm Post subject: |
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I thought we were talking about finding and destroying Red Mite. . . . . . .
Not that what you have found isn't interesting
Itsybitsy |
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Elly
Joined: 18 Apr 2008
Posts: 332
Location: Norfolk
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| Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2008 5:02 pm Post subject: |
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| Itsybitsy wrote: | I thought we were talking about finding and destroying Red Mite. . . . . . .
Not that what you have found isn't interesting
Itsybitsy |
Yes you were, but do you want to kill other things as well? People have suggested using creosote for red mite and I just wanted to make people aware that there are risks when using creosote.
I thought helping each other with information was part of what the forum was for
Keep smilin
Elly |
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Sparklepeeps
Joined: 17 Jan 2007
Posts: 1960
Location: Cheshire
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| Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2008 10:52 pm Post subject: |
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| Elly wrote: | Have noticed people taliking about using Creosote and have been a bit concerned as I was certain it can be very poisonous to pets
Especially toxic to cats
Elly |
Humm, thats enough to make me reconsider. Thanks for that
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Elly
Joined: 18 Apr 2008
Posts: 332
Location: Norfolk
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| Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2008 9:10 am Post subject: |
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Glad to of been some help Sparklepeeps 
We first discovered that creosote is toxic when we were looking at buildind a raised pond (for wheelchai access) with railway sleepers. It appears that it is not so good for humans either, especially if you are in contact with treated wood a lot.  As we have children, several other pets and a wildlife area we decided it was too risky.
Your cat looks lovely, what does the chick think of him/her as the cat looks shocked
keep smilin
Elly |
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