Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Poultry and Pets => Chicken Chat => Topic started by: Knight Family on October 01, 2011, 20:17

Title: Has red mite just gone mad?
Post by: Knight Family on October 01, 2011, 20:17

Hi all,

Has anyone else noticed that red mite over the last week or so has just exploded?

Title: Re: Has red mite just gone mad?
Post by: ANHBUC on October 01, 2011, 22:03

I haven't but will be doubly checking the coop tomorrow morning incase I have missed the sneaky blighters!  ;)

Title: Re: Has red mite just gone mad?
Post by: hillfooter on October 02, 2011, 00:18

Red Mite love hot humid weather so I'm not surprised if you have an infestation that they have multiplied their breeding over the past few days.  Normally you would expect a reduced amount of activity at this time of year.
HF

Title: Re: Has red mite just gone mad?
Post by: Knight Family on October 02, 2011, 20:50

Thanks HF, ah well at least I've spotted some more nooks they can hid so will be out again next week to reduce them even more.

Title: Re: Has red mite just gone mad?
Post by: Dominic on October 04, 2011, 09:40

With a bit of luck, the recent warm spell will have caused a lot of the dormant insects/eggs to wake up/hatch.  A hard cold spell will kill them off, and it'll be a mild year for pests next year.

Title: Re: Has red mite just gone mad?
Post by: gingerplant on October 06, 2011, 21:37

Certainly noticed it here - never had them before (checked meticulously) but 2 weeks after restocking the whole flock (after a 6 week resting period too) spotted a few of the little blighters last weekend. Gutted... Hoping my whole day's cleaning scrubbing disinfecting and diatom painting last weekend will pay off!
Grrrrr

Title: Re: Has red mite just gone mad?
Post by: hillfooter on October 06, 2011, 21:57

Quote from: Dominic on October 04, 2011, 09:40

With a bit of luck, the recent warm spell will have caused a lot of the dormant insects/eggs to wake up/hatch.  A hard cold spell will kill them off, and it'll be a mild year for pests next year.

I think that's likely.
HF