hi guys,, iv got red mite in my hen shed ,, iv started spraying in side the shed and is trying to do the hens now,, iv got them on me ,,,what about them getting in to my house,, whats bet way to handle the mite,, and what about the duck shed ,, do i treet that shed the same
Be absolutely sure it's spider mite before reacting - they aren't red like those little crimson wanderers you see scurrying about, they are just the red side of brown - and you can't see them without a strong lens, and (unless you have a microscope) you won't see them move at all unless you watch for 30 seconds.
The manic scurrying crimson guys are your friends - they are predators.
Cheers.
Can you tell us a bit more please Vinlander?
I think we have misunderstanding going on..Gazzaroo I assume you are talking about fowl/bird mites..those blood sucking things for birds...those you can see with naked eye and they do need treating if you find them so easily.
If you have them in your chicken shed..it is highly likely they are in your ducl house too..You need apropriate products to treat both the 'house' and the birds. As if you can see them crawling about..the infestation is going to be worst than you can see and soon result to loss of condition of your bird and even death. I don't want to sound all doom and gloom...but be quick as they multiply by each day..during peak season, thats now, if my memory serve me right it is only 10 days per each generation.. :o
Have a look any commercial poultry sites and they sell range of product..take your pick and use them according the labels..but you NEED to carry on repeating the treatment for several week to get rid of the problem or you've just waisted your money. Once you got these mites, you WILL always have them..sooo difficult to totally get rid of. So you just have to keep up with treatments, but once you are on top of the numbers then its easy..just occasional 'tidy up' or regular dusting with right powder will keep numbers down so there is no problems.
Mites crawling on you is not problem..unpleasant..just wash them off..as in house..if you have birds,feathered sort , for them there is their own sort of mite sprays..Otherwise..no birds in house, not a problem, bird mites don't feed on human or other animals.
Red mite however is plant pest...those are difficult to see with naked eye..
Don't panic, it can be beaten. and although they tickle a bit they will not hurt you.
I have had 2 infestations of mites in my hen house. The first time I had no experience and didn't act fast enough. Most of the hens died, after getting weaker and weaker.
The second time (a few years later) I was better prepared. I hosed out the shed (pressure washer would have been ideal), Used a whole aerosol of mite spray over the whole surface of the shed and in the cracks (can't remember the name), followed by a container of Johnsons poultry mite and lice powder, puffing it into the cracks, in the nest boxes and also on the underside of all the birds. The powder is non toxic, so you can still eat the eggs (if they are still laying). It is diatomaceous earth powder, which cuts and scratches the mites, and they die. Had to do all this weekly at first, then monthly just to keep it under control.
I hope you manage to beat it, it will take a while.
I would recommend poultry shield, and diatomaceous earth, as suggested by gypsy. I've only used them as a preventative but, every finger & toe crossed, haven't had mites yet.
http://www.chicken-house.co.uk/acatalog/5_litre_Poultry_Shield_Concentrate.html
Yes I use DE as preventative..but when you have full blown problem..more drastic actions are needed first...
I've lost chickens to mites..it was in my early days of chicken keeping..once I realized the problem, it was too late..girls became anemic and I couldn't get them back to their former health anymore. Only option was to put the girls into 'better use' and start again with properly cleaned up shed and equipment..and new girls. But I haven't done the same mistake after that.
Now I use DE powder in nest boxes and around the bedding..well everywhere really and all the time + once a year bit more thorough 'scrub' all over. That way I have kept my chicken shed 'mite free' for years. I cannot be 100% sure but I've never ever seen single one since.
I don't think I ever forget the sight of the mites crawling out of the woodwork after the first 'spray'...'millions' of them, YUCK! Each week after the spray there was less and less. I bet it took nearly a month to get the shed 'clean' from the crawlers...what a job it was ::) Don't want to go through that never ever again!
I was suggesting poultry shield as a treatment - depending on the concentration you can use it either for prevention or killing mites. Sorry the post wasn't clear.
Uugh, yes, I don't want ever to have mites it sounds so horrible.
Hope you get it sorted gazzaroo.
hi guys well iv been in the sheds with sparer ,, i came out crawling and still is.. used some powder i got it from the allotments shed. put some pigeon drops on the hen,,all for red mite,,then spired jazfuled ,,,just one thing iv got my shed lined out with comprest rook wool bat,, and plastic ribbed sheets will i have to take this out,,o and what about smoke bboomers thing iv just ordered ,,i was thinking off smoking them out then soke them sheds and all the girls,
Quote from: pumpkinlover on June 07, 2011, 07:40:22
Can you tell us a bit more please Vinlander?
Er. I think I got the wrong end of this one - I read henhouse as greenhouse. Need better glasses.
Sorry.
Quote from: Vinlander on June 10, 2011, 17:05:01
Quote from: pumpkinlover on June 07, 2011, 07:40:22
Can you tell us a bit more please Vinlander?
Er. I think I got the wrong end of this one - I read henhouse as greenhouse. Need better glasses.
Sorry.
No worries! if you find my glasses you can have them! Been lost 2 days now :-[