The Poultry Keeper

CP · Posted: Sat Aug 11, 2007 4:03 pm Post subject: Red Mite!!!

Arrrggghhhh! We have them in the coop!!!!!!! Twisted Evil

I suppose we've not been quite as vigilant since our fox attack & other things happening here too, so they've only been getting the minimum of mucking out recently. We've only got ourselves to blame!

Gave them a good blitzing today & will do more in the coming week to really clear them out of the coop.

I hate them!! Twisted Evil

(& I feel all itchy! Embarassed

)

nigel · Posted: Sat Aug 11, 2007 4:30 pm Post subject:

Blowtorch, drastic I know violent3

Only thing that works 100%.

I do like poultry shield too though as a preventative

Good luck with the little B#####ds

kated · Joined: 01 Nov 2006 Posts: 1845 Location: norfolk

Thought you might be interested in this.....

http://www.ecospray.com/news.html

nigel · Posted: Sat Aug 11, 2007 9:21 pm Post subject:

very interested, thanks for that kated

looks promising anything that helps with these little bloodsuckers

Welsh Duck · Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2007 1:27 pm Post subject:

Give them a blast from me !!!!

cazjohn · Joined: 13 Apr 2007 Posts: 73

Can't believe it have been so careful. Only sprayed the chickens last weekend.

Torch coming out this pm!

CP · Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2007 9:44 am Post subject:

Believe me cazjohn, drop your guard for a minute & they're in there! Twisted Evil

nigel · Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2007 9:57 am Post subject:

I realise I'm a bit compulsive, but I flame the joints of my coup every time i clean them out.

CP · Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2007 9:58 am Post subject:

Very wise Nigel. It's probably the best way! Very Happy

Kristal · Joined: 01 Apr 2007 Posts: 115 Location: Shrewsbury

Bugger! I've just been out to collect eggs and their house is CRAWLING with red mites Mad

This is the first time we've seen them, so any advice would be appreciated. I've got some diatom powder. If I clean the house thoroughly with Jeyes fluid, let it dry and go over it with a blowtorch, then sprinkle liberally with DE will that be enough? Also is DE enough to treat the girls with or is some other product recommended? If so I hope one of the Shrewsbury people can give me an idea where I can buy some - thanks!

CP · Posted: Mon Aug 20, 2007 12:28 pm Post subject:

I would do as you've said in your post, as the sooner you get destroying them the better! Twisted Evil

You have my sympathies!

Poultry Shield is recommended for use on redmite. It should be readily available in your area. If not, many online smallholder & poultry sites should have it in stock.

We find diatom is best at keeping redmite away, but it will need liberal application in every conceivable crack & crevice! Shocked

And you'll probably need to clean thoroughly more than once - every 2-3 days we found was needed as they kept appearing! Twisted Evil

kated · Joined: 01 Nov 2006 Posts: 1845 Location: norfolk

I don't find that poultryshield kills the mites stone dead - they seem to go on crawling, maybe they die later but I do like immediate results! For that reason I prefer Ficam W which is not very ecological but does kill the little blighters very quickly and also prevents re-infestation for ages afterwards. I have not had an attack of mites now since mid May.

I agree about the diatom - I dust my chucks regularly and add it to the dust bath tray as well. I love the trade name of ours, "Magic Dragon" - as in "Puff the Magic Dragon" always makes me smile!

cazjohn · Joined: 13 Apr 2007 Posts: 73

We have now blowtorched three times, used barrier viricidal disinfectant in coop and barrier red mite concentrate on birds but we are still crawling with them! Am now seriously considering buying an omlet cube for housing, as we have virtually dismantled our wooden coop and behind every joint there are more of the little devils.

Kated the product you use is it on bird and coop? - really wanted to try and keep organic but products not having any effect.

CP · Posted: Wed Aug 29, 2007 9:48 am Post subject:

Diatom is the answer. Used on the coop & birds as well if you need to. Got rid of our really bad infestation 2 years ago & has worked again this time.

We had to thoroughly clean the coop every other day with Poultry shield & a paint stripper heat gun (didn't have a blowtorch) & then the diatom for 3 weeks to rid ourselves of them last time so I know what you're going through!

They do get everywhere, even places you never knew existed! Shocked

kated · Joined: 01 Nov 2006 Posts: 1845 Location: norfolk

Ficam W for the house only - not for use on poultry, use the diatom on them. Ficam W is toxic and I don't like using it either, but I have not found anything which works as well as it does.