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Hello!
I've been keeping hens for 2 1/2 years, no rats no mites, until now.
My neighbours got their own hens in November, immediately we had rats visiting and then living in the compost heap, ow we have mites. I don't want to blame them as I know these things happen, but in a week we have gone from no (or so few I didn't see them when I cleaned them out last week) to having had a hen die this week, riddled with mites! I have scrubbed out the house, sprayed in all the nooks and crannies, then dusted with powder, mixed the powder into the new bedding and dusted the hens, carefully rubbing it right in.
The coop is still crawling 24 hours later. I have bought a fumigation thingy to use tomorrow if it is still crawling.
Naturally with the neighbours coop being immediately next door (through the fence) I warned them of the situation and advised them to check their hens and dust them regardless.
I've just been round this evening to see how they were and tell them how awful ours are and been told their hens are fine. Three of 6 are completely bald on their bottoms and heads, they are all twitching and pecking at themselves and then I spotted that they all have puffy dry legs. Really, really puffy and so I said that they clearly have scaly leg mite to which he said "oh yes, I hadn't noticed that before"!!!!
What should I do? I'm sure he'll do b*#&#r all to treat them as he said he would just "wring their necks if thy got mites"!!!!!!!
I've been keeping hens for 2 1/2 years, no rats no mites, until now.
My neighbours got their own hens in November, immediately we had rats visiting and then living in the compost heap, ow we have mites. I don't want to blame them as I know these things happen, but in a week we have gone from no (or so few I didn't see them when I cleaned them out last week) to having had a hen die this week, riddled with mites! I have scrubbed out the house, sprayed in all the nooks and crannies, then dusted with powder, mixed the powder into the new bedding and dusted the hens, carefully rubbing it right in.
The coop is still crawling 24 hours later. I have bought a fumigation thingy to use tomorrow if it is still crawling.
Naturally with the neighbours coop being immediately next door (through the fence) I warned them of the situation and advised them to check their hens and dust them regardless.
I've just been round this evening to see how they were and tell them how awful ours are and been told their hens are fine. Three of 6 are completely bald on their bottoms and heads, they are all twitching and pecking at themselves and then I spotted that they all have puffy dry legs. Really, really puffy and so I said that they clearly have scaly leg mite to which he said "oh yes, I hadn't noticed that before"!!!!
What should I do? I'm sure he'll do b*#&#r all to treat them as he said he would just "wring their necks if thy got mites"!!!!!!!
. But it's worth it in the long run - I can see an immediate improvement in one of my birds which actually sleeps inside the coop rather than on top of it. RH said she'd been mite-free for 3 years after using creocote, so fingers crossed eh? I got mine from B&Q I believe - a large plastic tub for around £12 - £15 I think. Maybe you could let your neighbour have your left-overs?? Search online to check they have it, then go shopping! (
I went straight back out and doused everything with Diatom - Chooks included! Then came in and got in the shower! 
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