Add to delicious
Add to technorati
Add to technorati
Digg it
furl
Yahoo
Latest Viral Video:

Follow us on twitter

Discussion Tag Cloud

The hencam forum is proud to be powered by Exa Networks.

hits

We hope you enjoy your visit and join our happy hencam community!

If you haven't already got an account, it's easy to join (and completely free), just click the sign-in button at the top-right of the screen and click Apply for Membership.

If you want to help hencam, then please use our Amazon affiliate links the next time you purchase anything from Amazon - for
UK amazon purchases use this link or for
US amazon purchases use this link! It won't cost you anything at all and amazon will send us few pence which will go to the girls, new cameras, treats and more!



If you can think of anything that should be in this space, then let me know!

Welcome Guest!
Want to take part in these discussions? If you have an account, sign in now.
If you don't have an account, apply for one now. We'd love you to join and pin your location on our map!

If you are interested in knitting jumpers for hens, click here!
Want to help...? It doesn't need to cost you anything!

Emergencies! »   The dreaded red mite

Bottom of page arrow

1 to 4 of 4

  1.  
    •  
      CommentAuthorneil
    • CommentTimeSep 2nd, 2014 11:48am (Sep 2nd 2014)
     

    Keeper of the hens

    Sorry if this topic makes you squirm (if you keep chickens, you're probably feeling completely itchy right now!)

    We've had an ongoing infestation of red-mite, and I wondered if we could pool our collective knowledge on how to beat the little b*****ds.

    I can't prevent them getting infected completely as wild birds are getting in the coop every now and again and I suspect they are the carriers. I'd just like to be able to control the infestation properly.

    So far I've tried diatomaceous earth and I think it might be keeping them under some control, but around the cover of the nest box there are lots of clumps of smaller, bright red mites, and they are happily wandering and living in the DE powder (I think it might not be working as the powder is compressed by the lid.

    I tried spraying the area with Jeyes fluid and then powdered, but the mites still appear (though not in massive numbers, just clumps).

    We are considering getting rid of the current coop and getting a simple plastic coop as they are more red-mite resistance.

    So... any other ideas?
    • CommentAuthorollie in UK
    • CommentTimeSep 2nd, 2014 10:54pm (Sep 2nd 2014) edited
     
    "Abandon ship". Words come into mind!

    Looking foreward to a nice bonfire.....
    • CommentAuthorLynnW
    • CommentTimeSep 3rd, 2014 1:03am (Sep 3rd 2014)
     
    I built all new pens for my Silkies and that solved the problem..I used very small wire fabric so the wild birds couldn't get in...they don't even hang around anymore as they know it's useless. I put lino down on the floors of the coops and their runs and scrub them every week, and change out the Ceder shavings. I gave them all baths in dog flea shampoo and now...no more mites. It was a lot of work. They have Summer pens that they can come out on the ground and scratch in the grass, but I put bird netting up so they are protected from wild birds and Beach umbrellas to give them shade. The pens are small, but then Silkies are tiny chickens. :face-smile:
    •  
      CommentAuthorRed
    • CommentTimeSep 10th, 2014 2:38pm (Sep 10th 2014)
     

    Keeper of the hens

    How long have you had the DE for? Does it become less effective if it is old or gets damp...?!

1 to 4 of 4

  1.