Red Mite

Latest Articles

Red Mite
Page Previous 1, 2

Downsizer Forum Index -> Poultry

Author

Message

Bodger

Joined: 23 May 2006
Posts: 13524

Posted: Mon Sep 24, 12 9:39 am Post subject:
You maybe assuming that the RM are inside the house, but thats not always the case, on occasion I've had those white juveniles that Garden Hens is referring to, appear on the exterior of the chickenshed when I've been creosoting the outside of the house.

SteveP

Joined: 23 Jan 2008
Posts: 155
Location: North Devon

Posted: Mon Sep 24, 12 11:19 am Post subject:

I had a major infestation recently. I favour the take no prisoners approach to treating them.

A smoke bomb https://www.pestcontroldirect.co.uk/acatalog/Agropharm_Fortefog_P_MAXI_Smoke_Generator.html removes most of them from the shed very quickly and easily while the ivomec (harkers) clears them from the birds. I also used a residual pyrethroid insecticidal spray a week later just to be sure.

I know this is counter to what most people advocate because it uses chemicals but I have to say it does work.

Garden Hens

Joined: 17 Sep 2012
Posts: 10
Location: Cheshire

Posted: Mon Sep 24, 12 12:17 pm Post subject:

Bodger wrote:

You maybe assuming that the RM are inside the house, but thats not always the case, on occasion I've had those white juveniles that Garden Hens is referring to, appear on the exterior of the chickenshed when I've been creosoting the outside of the house.

This is the hub of the dreadful matter. The diatom powders are brilliant and get rid of visible mites, good for powdering directly onto the hens, but there are all those little hatchlings tucked away, far too deep for powder or mite sprays to penetrate.

Lorrainelovesplants

Joined: 13 Oct 2006
Posts: 6521
Location: Dordogne

Posted: Mon Sep 24, 12 1:32 pm Post subject:
Interesting what Steve above has said re Fortefog...we have a couple of these, and Im seriously considering using in a house that I just cant get clear.....

Lorrainelovesplants

Joined: 13 Oct 2006
Posts: 6521
Location: Dordogne

Posted: Mon Sep 24, 12 1:34 pm Post subject:
Jt checked the cannister... its a mini fortefog (3.5g).

SteveP

Joined: 23 Jan 2008
Posts: 155
Location: North Devon

Posted: Mon Sep 24, 12 2:12 pm Post subject:

Lorrainelovesplants wrote:

Jt checked the cannister...
its a mini fortefog (3.5g).

I only used the larger size because I have reused a full size garage as a chicken shed. The smaller one would have probably done that too if the air gaps could have been properly sealed.

The large one (actually a different brand) was rated for 1000 cubic metres

Steve

Chickpea

Joined: 05 Nov 2004
Posts: 208
Location: Buckinghamshire

Posted: Mon Sep 24, 12 4:13 pm Post subject:

SteveP wrote:

Mmm, I spoke a little too soon! A brand new henhouse, only occupied for 11 days and I found a couple of mites! I looked at this to slaughter the little blighters before they get a hold, but it's much too big, my henhouse is for 18 chooks! I'll have to scource a small version...

In the meantime I got this:
NET-TEX TOTAL RED MITE KILL POWDER AND LIQUID SET

750ml RTU LIQUID & 200gm RED MITE POWDER SHAKER DIATOM

Hope it works!

chez

Joined: 13 Aug 2006
Posts: 35934
Location: The Hive of the Uberbee, Quantock Hills, Somerset

Posted: Mon Sep 24, 12 8:58 pm Post subject:

I've used a smoke bomb in the past; you have to make sure that all the holes in the house are taped up for it to be really effective. Our neighbours came round to check the house wasn't on fire.

ETA: I've been told recently that ivermectin-based products applied to the birds can make cockerels temporarily infertile - which I didn't know when I used it on a couple with scaley leg earlier in the year. I thought it was just co-incidence. I'm going to have a bit of a trawl round for actual information/research at some point, but haven't had time yet.

Tavascarow

Joined: 06 Aug 2006
Posts: 8407
Location: South Cornwall

Posted: Tue Sep 25, 12 5:31 am Post subject:
There is a naturally occurring predatory mite which is becoming available to commercial poultry farmers. Unfortunately only effective where the temperature in the house stays between 20c to 30c so not much use for most of us. I just soak the houses with Jeye's. Fill a knapsack sprayer & get it everywhere.

Chickpea

Joined: 05 Nov 2004
Posts: 208
Location: Buckinghamshire

Posted: Tue Sep 25, 12 8:01 am Post subject:
Can't see any sign today, so hopefully got them before they got a hold! Anyway, it's blooming cold in N Bucks, so maybe they are hiding!!

Bodger

Joined: 23 May 2006
Posts: 13524

Posted: Tue Sep 25, 12 8:38 am Post subject:

I wish that it was so simple. As a qualified pest controller, I've just about tried everything short of dynamite. They are persistant lttle beggars that still keep coming back. I believe that wildbirds are responsible for reinfestation.
I think that what is needed, is a two pronged approach, with both the buildings and the birds needing treatment but whose got the time or the inclination to pick up over a hundred chickens off their perches at night and treat them? IMHO you can kill most of your RM but you rarely if ever get them all. You might think that you have but have you? You've just got to stick at it.

Andy B

Joined: 12 Jan 2005
Posts: 3920
Location: Brum

Posted: Tue Sep 25, 12 11:47 am Post subject:

Garden Hens wrote:

Bodger wrote:

Try a duel approach. You can get some stuff that you put on the birds that poison anything that feeds on them. I can get you the name if you need it. Then treat the house with any of the listed red mite killers, but you will need to do this every week for a few weeks as this will not kill any eggs and you need to cover the entire life cycle of the mites.

Bodger

Joined: 23 May 2006
Posts: 13524

Posted: Tue Sep 25, 12 11:57 am Post subject:
I have some and I know.

foggy

Joined: 21 Feb 2012
Posts: 343
Location: Devon

Posted: Wed Sep 26, 12 6:21 pm Post subject:

Andy B wrote:

Try a duel approach.

Ten steps at dawn kind of thing?

marshdaisy

Joined: 08 Feb 2010
Posts: 109

Posted: Fri Nov 23, 12 6:05 pm Post subject:
I had red mite for the first time this year (1st in 15yrs of poultry keeping ) We used ivermectin on the birds (and yes Chez, it can render eggs infertile - I was told that and found out with a batch of Red Dorking and Welbar eggs), and all sorts on the houses. What worked best for us was regular sprays of Dethlac. I am going to be prepared in the spring for the little bastards!

	Downsizer Forum Index -> Poultry	All times are GMT Page Previous 1, 2
Page 2 of 2

View Latest Posts