creosote - where to find it?? alternatives (that work)?

[nmayhew]

Hi guys,
Having read the fact sheets linked to in one the stickies, I see creosote is recommended for house treatment / mite prevention.
Now, the million dollar question:
Where can I get it?
Is there anything else that works?
Cheers,
Nick

[Suechooks]

CreoCote is the stuff everyone uses. real creosote is virtually unobtainable. Creocote works a treat and kills the mites, its available from any paint place - B&Q Wickes Homebase Wilkos etc

[its hilly]

Same as Sue, creocote...excellent.

[lindyloo]

we can get real creosote form the local sawmill/ timber merchants, so you might be able to get it at one local to you. also the "countrywide" farm shops should have it.

[Suechooks]

we can get real creosote form the local sawmill/ timber merchants, so you might be able to get it at one local to you. also the "countrywide" farm shops should have it.

Bear in mind it is carcinogenic which is why its not on general sale. I think you are supposed to be licenced to use it but some retailers are obviously flouting those regs. The substitute works well so why take the risk.

[nmayhew]

thank you all so much for your responses

Countrywide aren't in my neck of the woods but i'll try Scats (equivalent sort of outfit as far as i can see), and if not i'll give my local hardware store a whirl

i'm sure the instructions will tell me (for creocote), but do you think it possible to kick the girls out early one morning and paint their house and have it usable for that evening?

i hope so as i only have one chicken house!

thank you all again,

Nick

[lindyloo]

who said i wasnt licensed- i come from a farming/ horsey background, but i didnt know the general public couldnt get it, so apologise for giving bad advise. that being so,if you really want it, i would ask a friendly farmer if they could help you out

[MaureenHall]

thank you all so much for your responses

Countrywide aren't in my neck of the woods but i'll try Scats (equivalent sort of outfit as far as i can see), and if not i'll give my local hardware store a whirl

i'm sure the instructions will tell me (for creocote), but do you think it possible to kick the girls out early one morning and paint their house and have it usable for that evening?

i hope so as i only have one chicken house!

thank you all again,

Nick

I wouldn't try and do it in 1 day, the smell is enough to suffocate you anyway Can you get hold of an old rabbit hutch or something to give the girls a temporary home for a couple of nights while you paint their "proper" home? I left my coop for 4 days before moving the girls in - mind you, I did do it inside and out

[janeyo]

If you googe it and find info on the real stuff it isn't actually carcenogenic. There is no proof of this. I spent ages the other month looking it all up. It has got some very nasty sh*t in it though and should be used with caution.
You can still get it from farm suppliers, but you have to buy it in bulk, 75 litres I think is the smallest round here.
The original is way better then the substitute.

We used the real thing on our new coop a fortnight ago and the hens are still not in it as it's still too whiffy.

[Suechooks]

If its too whiffy after 2 weeks I'm glad I haven't used it. I'd still stick to the safe alternative - the red mite are just as dead with that.

[RichmondHens]

You only have to be wary of it while it's wet. Once it's dry it's not a problem. When wet it kills the mite, when dry it will act as a preventative for many months. As soon as the house has dried out completely the hens can be allowed back in. It doesn't matter if it still smells. You don't have to paint every cm of the house, just the joints, cracks and crevices, and perches. Flat surfaces can be left untreated. It is best done though on a dry and breezy day. It'll dry out quicker that way. How many hens do you have? If you only have a few you could probably pop them in a couple of large cardboard boxes in a shed or garage overnight.