when will the red mites DIE!!!!

**RichmondHens** · 18-10-2010, 05:00 PM

In my experience the only thing that works is creosote, or creosote substitute - I'm sure you must be able to get something like it in France. We have tried powder and poultry shield in the past, neither of which have been effective. Creosote on the other hand not only kills the mite stone dead but also repels them for months to come. You just need some alternative housing for a few days until the house has dried out. Also make sure you don't have a felt roof. If you have, the mites will be living under it, and no amount of treatment to the house will make a difference as they will creep away under the felt to escape. If you have it, rip it off and replace with onduline or marine ply.

**Snadger** · 19-10-2010, 07:42 AM

I used permethrin and it totally eradicated mine! I applied a liquid solution from a knapsack sprayer and also used a Permethrin powder puffer..............result, no more red mite!

**Munch** · 19-10-2010, 07:57 AM

Originally posted by RichmondHens View Post

. Creosote on the other hand not only kills the mite stone dead but also repels them for months to come. You just need some alternative housing for a few days until the house has dried out.

Did you have to use an animal friendly creosote?

**Suechooks** · 19-10-2010, 08:15 AM

Originally posted by Munch View Post

Did you have to use an animal friendly creosote?

The one most people use is Creocote - its a creosote substitute. You need to keep the birds out till its dry and the fumes have dispersed but as RH says its really good. While I've been building my new coop I've poured Creocote into all the joins! You can get Creocote at most DIY places (Wickes and B&Q do it) and agricultural places too.

**Munch** · 19-10-2010, 08:58 AM

Thanks Sue, will definately consider it next year. I think my redmites have died down due to the cold this year, but they have just been horrendous!

**RichmondHens** · 19-10-2010, 09:48 AM

Originally posted by Munch View Post

Did you have to use an animal friendly creosote?

No, just the regular stuff. As long as the birds are not returned to the house until it is dry there shouldn't be a problem. It's the fumes given off by wet creosote which are harmful but once everything is completely dry it's fine.

**BUFFS** · 19-10-2010, 07:34 PM

Originally posted by Snadger View Post

I used permethrin and it totally eradicated mine! I applied a liquid solution from a knapsack sprayer and also used a Permethrin powder puffer..............result, no more red mite!

to snadger,
i started to find some red mite last week and have been treating them with smite liquid,sprayed all round the coop,will it kill them off?,as i dont have a spare coop to move them to while it gets creocoted, the permethrin powder puffer you spoke of ,has it got a brand name or just named as you said?..horrible little bu..ers arent they,they make me feel itchy so they must be terrible for the chooks...will make a spare coop in the spring,too dark and damp to try to creocote now

**Suechooks** · 20-10-2010, 08:31 AM

Originally posted by BUFFS View Post

to snadger,
i started to find some red mite last week and have been treating them with smite liquid,sprayed all round the coop,will it kill them off?,as i dont have a spare coop to move them to while it gets creocoted, the permethrin powder puffer you spoke of ,has it got a brand name or just named as you said?..horrible little bu..ers arent they,they make me feel itchy so they must be terrible for the chooks...will make a spare coop in the spring,too dark and damp to try to creocote now

Smite will kill them off. I use it on my perches and perch rests every day in summer.
If you can't creocote the whole of your coop just try dipping the ends of the perches in some and treat the perch rests. It'll prevent the mites crawling along the perches at night' but you won't need to evacuate the coop' especially if you leave the perches outside for the day. You can also put some Diatom in that area too

**BUFFS** · 20-10-2010, 03:11 PM

i removed the perches and found loads of mites between wall and each perch,sprayed them and replaced the two piece perches with 2ins wood,having planed down the edges to make them more comfortable for the chooks(after giving them a good dose of smite) so i will be moving perches each day to stay on top of the problem,thanks for the help...

**palomino** · 21-10-2010, 10:52 PM

Originally posted by Snadger View Post

I used permethrin and it totally eradicated mine! I applied a liquid solution from a knapsack sprayer and also used a Permethrin powder puffer..............result, no more red mite!

Permethrin - the chemical in Net-Tex Total Mite Kill products, and in most ant killer - will kill mites but can't be used on the bird, only the housing and perches. I have spent a king's ransom this year on these products, also Barrier Red Mite solution and powder (which is diatomaceous earth, like Diatom) to treat the birds. Problem is the Orpingtons are SO fluffy it's impossible to get down to the skin, the powder doesn't go through the fluff and as I've been treating them after they've gone to roost, it's far too cold to saturate them with a spray. And despite taking all shavings out at the weekend, spraying every surface and saturating the perches with permethrin before putting fresh wood shavings in, next week the shavings will be crawling with mites again. Three beautiful Orp chicks died this summer, two at 8 weeks and one at 15 weeks, and I'm sure it was mites that killed them.

**lettucegrow!** · 22-10-2010, 07:09 AM

I've been religiously puffing Diatom into the coop and all the bedding every week all through the summer hoping that when the roost they wiil fluff it through their feathers and maybe I've been lucky but it's one thing I haven't had a problem with.

**elizajay** · 22-10-2010, 09:15 AM

Maybe you will have to get rid of the bedding until you've got on top of the problem. I am sure would rather suffer a bit of cold from their house not being so well insulated than mite bite.

**petal** · 24-10-2010, 07:40 AM

I hate redmites.

**Glutton4...** · 24-10-2010, 09:15 AM

Well, I have them too. First time in my two years of keeping Chooks. I had instructed my Dad and Husband what to do, and how, whilst I was incapacitated, but, they DON'T BLIMMIN LISTEN!!!!!

To be fair, Mr. G. has been a saint, cleaning them out every weekend, but has not been doing the twice-weekly preventative 'Smite' spray. My Dad is only interested in getting his hands on the eggs.

Consequently, one of my nest-boxes' lids is alive with the little critters, just at the edge where the lid is hinged. Yesterday I drowned them in a really strong solution of 'Smite' morning and afternoon. Will report back later.

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