[Foxy]

Well how frustrating!!  :x Bought a new small broody house dead cheap had been outside for a while so I thought OK why not. Powdered broody, popped her in....took her out into a second broody house after chicks had hatched. Thought right clean out the first house and and well what a shock! red mite!!! the house has been empty for a few days so they must of been active looking for a meal, there were loads!!!
Straight away sprayed house with strong stuff but of course had to move new mum and chicks AGAIN into a growers shed this time whilst cleaned the second house.
I have powdered gently even the chicks, (like rolling little dough balls in flour! ) Powdered mum applied a tiny amount of frontline spray to her back(away from where the chicks would be) and added garlic into the drinking water.
Checked on chicks this morning and they are darting around very fit and healthy...what a relief!!!!
The red mite had even got into the second broody ark when I transferred mum must've been in the straw although only a few. Still only takes one! :evil:
Interestingly I asked my OH to see if he could spot any with a torch -he couldn't....but I knew they were there when I pointed one out he was really surprised -so a timely warning to everyone even though you think you dont have any or buy a new house treat the house as if they were there. If I hadn't spotted them would have lost a whole clutch of chicks in about 3 days. I think this warm muggy weather is perfect for them. So if you have a hen -acting a bit off, not laying or a bit thin and pale, red mite could be the problem and as my OH discovered they are not that easy to spot.

[GrannieAnnie]

when we had mite last year, they must sometimes still stay on the chook day times as I don't think they fly, but even the fence posts had them and they are yards from the house!

But they can live in trees after they get carried there by wild birds, then they can drop onto chooks or sheds and boy, do they multiply fast!!!!!  Worse than rabbits!!!!!

[kattcottrell]

I powdered my chooks and house yesterday for the first time and was a little nervous to how much to use, I covered every nook and cranny in the house but didn't know how much to put on the girls, its very dusty and and was getting down on my chest a bit (stupid me didn't wear a mask) can it get down on the girls chest and cause problems???

sorry if this is a daft question (got plenty more where that come from )