Catching red mite ?

**elizajay** · 03-02-2014, 06:17 PM

Chickens get mites from wild birds, so unless you keep them in a bubble they will be at risk. You can reduce the risk by painting to new coop with creocote a few weeks before it will be needed. Hatching your own is great but you have to be willing to deal with cockerels.

**BertieFox** · 03-02-2014, 07:04 PM

Been keeping chickens for twenty or thirty years, and our flock is 100% free range, roaming around a couple of acres of meadows, woodland and scrub. We have never treated them and they have never been affected by this mite. Healthy birds living outside in uncramped conditions are able to resist most pests and diseases.

Please don't use creosote as it is horrible toxic stuff made from coal tars. In fact, can you still buy it? Use a good preparatory non toxic wood preservative instead if you must.

**Scarlet** · 03-02-2014, 08:37 PM

I've been keeping chickens for years and I've never yet met a chicken keeper that hasn't had to deal with red mite! Bertie you are the first!!!
Hatching your own is not prevention!
Red mite lives in the cracks and crevices of the coop, not on the bird itself. They are worst in the warm weather, start looking out for them between may through to oct. July and Aug they are at their worst.
Creocote the coop inside and out, creocote the perch ends regularly, use Diatom and check frequently.

...and guaranteed they will still come to visit regardless

**Pineberry** · 03-02-2014, 09:44 PM

But if the coop is brand new, and incubated chicks are brand new (I mean not exposed to other chickens than how would they get the mite?

I can buy POL hens already but thought if I incubate myself I might avoid the mites. But I do prefer to get pol instead, less head ache raising chicks and probably not any more expensive.

**squibbs** · 03-02-2014, 11:02 PM

Other wild birds have them such as pigeons -its no shame to get red mite but it can be unpleasant to deal with - I first found out I had them when after I felt very itchy after cleaning the house out - there were loads of them in my hair - eeeeeew

Since I creocote and then use diatom I have not had a significant problem with them since - the diatom has been the best fix - I liberally spread it about particularly on the perches once every 3 months or so.

**Bill HH** · 03-02-2014, 11:47 PM

Regarding creocote, I spent the first 20 years of my life covered in the stuff, it did me no harm. We treated around 80 sheds every year inside and out and with over 10,000 free range birds we only got red mite once. Spraying them with parrafin got rid of them (but dont smoke while your spraying) Hatching your own will make no difference as has been said they come with wild birds. Nothing to horrible about them for humans really they are so tiny you hardly notice them, fleas are worse.

**Scarlet** · 03-02-2014, 11:59 PM

Originally posted by Bill HH View Post

Nothing to horrible about them for humans really they are so tiny you hardly notice them, fleas are worse.

Ha! You've got to be kidding Bill! You itch for weeks after.....

**Bill HH** · 04-02-2014, 12:08 AM

Originally posted by Scarlet View Post

Ha! You've got to be kidding Bill! You itch for weeks after.....

Maybe I was so pickled in creocote that they died, They really didnt bother me one bit. Now sheep ticks, those I did hate.

**kathyd** · 04-02-2014, 01:07 PM

"creocote" is an updated version of the old 'creosote' I think isn't it? Slightly less nasty? But you still need to leave it to dry thoroughly and lose the nasty smell before you let your birds in. Diamataceous earth is definitely good, but I've been told you also need to dust the birds thoroughly, not just the coop. I also chuck it into their indoor dust baths on top of the wood ash, then they cover themselves in it with less intervention from me

.

**Bill HH** · 04-02-2014, 01:51 PM

I love the smell of the old creosote.

**roitelet** · 04-02-2014, 02:17 PM

Red mite does not live on humans only birds. I always take a shower after cleaning out the houses and they're gone. You will always get the od one on you while you are in the house nothing to worry about.

**Scarlet** · 04-02-2014, 03:46 PM

Actually they don't live on the birds either. They live in the cracks and crevices in the coop, coming out to feed when the chicken goes in to roost. The less joins in the wood of the coop the easier it is to keep them at bay, a basic box is the most practical - don't go for anything fancy with pretty trims etc

**Nicos** · 04-02-2014, 03:52 PM

I am going to whisper this.....

We haven't had red mite either - so far I hasten to add- in the 4 years since we had chooks but ours live in a granite pigsty with lime washed walls and a concrete floor.
We dust the edges of the perches with red mite powder during the warmer months, yet all year the wild sparrows fly in and nick the pellets.

...just waiting for our turn in reality

..that or a visit from a fox

You can only do your best on as much information you have to hand

**MartinRSharpe** · 05-02-2014, 10:11 PM

Originally posted by kathyd View Post

"creocote" is an updated version of the old 'creosote' I think isn't it? Slightly less nasty?

Essentially yes. Creosote (the old stuff) was made from coal tar, which was carcinogenic and a bit of a risk to aquatic life. Creocote (the new stuff) is slightly more environmentally sound (in theory anyway).

You can still get hold of Creosote online but most of the websites state it should be professional use etc.

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