The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: suziequeue on March 30, 2014, 08:19:20 am
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I understand that treating chicken coops with creosote keeps mites etc at bay.
As I am not a professional, I cannot get hold of this product.
Do creosote alternatives/imitations such as creoseal have the same effect?
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The DIY product is called Creocote and is available in 5 Litre bottles Suziequeue. I have been told it is not as effective as original creosote, but it must have some preventative effect. Red mite love clean new wood as I have found out. Within the cracks in it they multiply rapidly, so anything you can do to make the wood 'dirty' has got to help. Make sure, if you can, to turn the coop panels upside down to get the stuff into the tongue and groove joints of the cladding. That may not be possible with some coops. I doubt Creocote will eradicate red mite once they are established though.
Surprised you can't buy proper creosote though Suziequeue -in 30L drums we got. A traditional agricultural merchants will have it and if you have a CHP number there is no argument.
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Oh - right - I'll give that a try.
Thanks :D :D
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I bought creosote off the internet with no problem. I have however had a huge problem getting the bloody stuff to dry... the consequence is.... this week I will be wiping off the damp stuff with white spirit ::)
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Yes Suziequeue, I bought 'traditional' creosote from the web, armed with nothing more than a CPH number and credit card.
Just take the proper precautions when you apply it - it was banned for joe public for a reason!
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If you do get proper Creosote Suziequeue, dilute it with paraffin 50:50 to treat your coop inside. Just as effective as undiluted, but dries in a fraction of the time.
As Womble says, be careful. I was rather ill after applying it inside a coop from breathing in the fumes and I burned my hands with the stuff as well. I am far more careful now.
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If you do get proper Creosote Suziequeue, dilute it with paraffin 50:50 to treat your coop inside. Just as effective as undiluted, but dries in a fraction of the time.
Oh right - I will get hold of some of that then.
How long before I can let chickens back in???
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Depends on the weather there and if the coop has been treated without dismantling. In warm sunny weather and good air circulation with the coop fully disassembled I allow two weeks to get rid of the smell -the stuff is touch dry in a couple of days. I never treat the nest boxes because in the sun you can get fumes given off for a long time at afterwards -perhaps 6 months. Guess that is what keeps the mites away for a year. Best drying place I have is a greenhouse.
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I got it last year from an agricultural supplier. Only drawback was that it was in a huge container - guess it'll last me a lifetime. Like Chris says, it takes a while to dry. I applied in the heat of the summer and it still took a couple of weeks before I felt comfortable letting the hens back in. In cool, damp weather I can imagine it could takes weeks to dry - if ever - so the suggestion to dilute with paraffin sounds a good plan.
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Our local agricultural supplier sells it, smallest quantity is 20L. They do have an online shop and will deliver.
I offered him my CPH and was quite disappointed that he didnt' even want it though?! I thought I was special being allowed to buy the 'real stuff' rather than creocote...