Do mites need chickens to survive?

nuzuki · « **on:** February 25, 2012, 13:07 »

I was wondering if you could get two coops and use them on rotation in order to kill off mite infestations. Or whilst you are painting and cleaning one you would use the other. Does anyone adopt this plan? If not when you do serious maintenance or cleaning work on your coops where do your chickens go? It could be a death trap inside a coop with wood stain or paint drying on the inside so im sure you'd have to relocate them for 48hours. Im new to this so im just questioning all the angles

Thanks

joyfull · « **Reply #1 on:** February 25, 2012, 13:23 »

if you are thinking off red mites they can live for over 6 weeks without feeding.
I have plastic housing now so only give mine a good wash and dry - no poultry shield needed however before I got these I used to wait for a really sunny day then thoroughly empty the coops of bedding, scrape with a paint scraper in the nooks and crannies then spray with poultry shield. When that had dried (and it doesn't take long) dust with diatom (I used to puff it into the gaps but somepeople make up Hillfooters diatom slurry and paint it on). In winter as a disinfectant I used to use Stalasan F which is a powder disinfectant recommended for poultry and pigs

hen-night · « **Reply #2 on:** February 25, 2012, 13:28 »

I believe Red mite dont need a food source too survive, and can live for months.
Prevention is a good way of dealing with them, and their are numerous products to use.
As for where they go during maintenance, I tend to do this early summer when they happily roost in my large run, fully foxproof by the way. The coop section can be closed off to the hens as well..

Aunt Sally · « **Reply #3 on:** February 25, 2012, 14:19 »

This articler says the mite can survive for up to eight months between feeds.

http://smite-a-mite.com/Smite-Professional/Resources/About-red-mite.pdf

Yorkie · « **Reply #4 on:** February 25, 2012, 18:47 »

I believe they can also drop onto the floor and then re-infect from there.

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Do mites need chickens to survive?

nuzuki

Do mites need chickens to survive?

joyfull

Re: Do mites need chickens to survive?

hen-night

Re: Do mites need chickens to survive?

Aunt Sally

Re: Do mites need chickens to survive?

Yorkie

Re: Do mites need chickens to survive?

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