[carl]

red mites are very annoying to us, but what about the poor birds. I had a bad problem last year, after returning from holiday. the warm weather and absence of a watchfull eye had let them take hold, big style. I got them crawling all over my hands and face while I was dealing with them.( it is making me itch now). i used all the methods mentioned above except the sulphur bomb, and got them under control, that is untill the warm spell a couple of weeks ago. bang, they were back, but I have not let them take hold. creosote the inside of the shed, into every little crack after you have blitzed it. not sure if this is the ultimate prevention, and it really stinks, but somehow I feel better about the situation, every time I catch a whiff. I kept the birds out for a few days, and let them sleep in a stable. I have liberally sprinkled ant powder and diatomous powder on the perches in case the mites are hopping off feet. I have to admit it was getting me down to see the redmite returning, as i had been trying allsorts, but you really have to blitz the place once in a while.

[terryh]

chlorocarb   try it guys

[doganjo]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/PACK-OF-10-STICKY-FLY-PAPER,-FLY-CATCHERS_W0QQitemZ300416760318QQcmdZViewItemQQimsxq20100413?IMSfp=TL100413168001r20899#shId

another one , this time for 10 and the delivery is cheaper too ...
cheers

Russ

Pure dead brilliant, Russ! 10 fly papers = £2.74

[Lavinia]

i picked up mine in a little old fashioned hard wear store pack of 5 for £1.50 so i thinks you got a bargin Annie   

[CameronS]

I have never had an infestation of redmite, ever, infact i have only seen a total of 3,  however i do have a large amount of spiders, will they be keeping down the mites 

It seems very strange that everyone else seems to have problems and i don't

[little blue]

Cameron, I didn't like to say... but touch wood neither have we
just bl**dy rats trying to take over the world!

[doganjo]

As far as I know I don't have any either, but I'll use the papers to make sure.  Cheap enough to do that!

[Moregin]

We have had the 'explosions' of redmite from time to time especially after when the wet weather turns warm.  The best solution I have seen is a mix of creasote(the old stuff was best but the new 'safe' ones work too) and diesel sprayed inside the coop.  After trial and error I found the best thing to use was one of those garden fence sprayers.  Do it as early in the morning as possible, clean out the coop first before spraying heavily especially round joints and open ends, the mites can live in the open pores of the wood grain let alone in the leaves of ply!!!  Dont let the birds back into the box that night to give the woodwork a chance to soak up everything.  I have the advantage of having two roosting boxes so the birds all cram into the one for a night.  The next day I spray the other box and keep the birds out of both until dark.  Once the birds are settled I pick them up one at a time and douse them in the powder to ensure the mites on them are killed off before placing them all in the first box done.  I think this is why a lot of people keep getting the buggers back as the eggs/young/hungry ones stay on the birds and just continue the population when they go back into their coop.  If you wanted to try this you could put the birds into carboard boxes overnight to get the mites cleaned off them.

[valr]

Where do these mites come from? I have one of those new fangled plastic hoosies that shall remain nameless- am I likely to get mites in that do you think?
It's bad enough dealing with cat fleas never mind chicken ones!

[Roxy]

We have never had red mite here.  But yes, plenty of blooming rats.

[ballingall]

I have to say we have never had much in the way of redmite (I don't really want to say that, in case I wish it on my chooks!) and we still have old wooden houses with felt roofs at that. I might try the fly papers under the perch though to check.


Beth

[Wizard]

Not really in this one vair but my word hen fleas don't half make me come up in bumps if one gets me and has a drink I think thats why my Dad used to call them Bloody things.Should you happen to catch one when its just had it's dinner out of your armSqueeze it between your thumb nails.Then wonder where it put all that blood and it was yours as well.Then itch like made for the next 24hrs as Dad said Bloody things