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Poultry & Waterfowl / Re: Red Mites outbreak & diatomaceous earth

« Last post by Q on July 28, 2021, 08:06:41 pm »

i am sure someone posted on here that they threw the pen into a pond (obviously minus the chickens) and when they fished it out 2 weeks later there were still red mites.

All my bedding goes on the compost heap so I can claim to compost my red mites.

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Poultry & Waterfowl / Vintage 1930/40s egg incubators for sale

« Last post by Kighpoultry on July 28, 2021, 02:26:44 pm »

Vintage egg incubators for sale!

- "Gloucester junior"
https://locksands.wordpress.com/2016/08/29/the-incubator/

- Circa 1930s "The Glevum", Stephen's Incubators, Gloucester

- 1940s "Glevum Superior"

£150 each. PM for photos and more info.

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Poultry & Waterfowl / Re: Red Mites outbreak & diatomaceous earth

« Last post by twizzel on July 28, 2021, 01:24:27 pm »

The shed we burnt down was 10ft x 8ft. I had spent the summer trying to control the red mite with DE and poultry shield spray, but they were in the roof felt, nest boxes and just kept multiplying. It was so satisfying seeing it go up in flames 

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Poultry & Waterfowl / Re: Red Mites outbreak & diatomaceous earth

« Last post by Fleecewife on July 28, 2021, 12:54:55 pm »

The best cure for red mite is setting a light to the house and watching the whole thing burn to the ground. Obviously must build a new house before you do this    but make sure the new house is treated inside and out with creosote, and given time to air before you move hens in.

We did that once many years ago - very satisfying     But you must make sure your birds are pest free before they go into the new house, or you might as well not have bothered.


We do use an annual creosote wash, as well as DE and a flame gun.  We also put wood ash in their favourite dust baths when the weather is dry.  Right now we have the remains of a wood bonfire which they spend ages batheing in.  White hens? None of those 

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Poultry & Waterfowl / Re: Red Mites outbreak & diatomaceous earth

« Last post by Q on July 28, 2021, 12:41:31 pm »

Strange this morning that there were hardly any of the little black ones on the eggs (yesterday the eggs were crawling with them).

Have you treated the hens again?

Not individually yet but i have (always do) put DE in the dust baths.

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Poultry & Waterfowl / Re: Red Mites outbreak & diatomaceous earth

« Last post by chrismahon on July 28, 2021, 11:46:13 am »

We never really got on top of our red mite problems until we used a steam cleaner. Problem is the mites hide in the joints of the cladding and the chemicals can't reach unless the coop is turned upside down. Some do remain on the chickens and to catch them we treat the perch ends with creosote (ONLY the ends, as contact with skin causes bad chemical burns). The mites that get off the chickens are trapped under the perch, which can be lifted out in the morning for treatment. After about a week the mites will have gone. Another coop steam clean and then check the perch every week, because there is a chance that some will be in the run and will find their way back. Haven't had red mite for 7 years now, but still checking the perches.

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Coffee Lounge / Re: I know it's been done before but...

« Last post by in the hills on July 28, 2021, 10:20:40 am »

Hiraeth

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Poultry & Waterfowl / Re: Red Mites outbreak & diatomaceous earth

« Last post by Richmond on July 28, 2021, 08:54:22 am »

Strange this morning that there were hardly any of the little black ones on the eggs (yesterday the eggs were crawling with them).

Have you treated the hens again?

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Poultry & Waterfowl / Re: Red Mites outbreak & diatomaceous earth

« Last post by Richmond on July 28, 2021, 08:45:29 am »

if you are considering replacing the coop, I recommend switching to a Green Frog recycled agric plastic one (not cheap, but holds its value so when you come to sell so you'll get your investment back) which has very few places for any creepy crawlies to hide, and is trivial to assemble, disassemble and blast with a power washer (so you save on cleaning chemicals, pesticides, or the hassle of trying to get hold of real creosote).

The problem with power washing plastic housing is that the mites are not killed, just flushed into the grass. They are then perfectly capable of finding their way back into the house again ......

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Poultry & Waterfowl / Re: Red Mites outbreak & diatomaceous earth

« Last post by Q on July 28, 2021, 07:55:30 am »

Strange this morning that there were hardly any of the little black ones on the eggs (yesterday the eggs were crawling with them).