[lazydog]

just at the back of our run is a elder tree it is in a neighbours garden but over hangs our run,when the wind blows leaves off I have noticed they are crawling with insects some which look like mite grey and small.Pigeons roost in this tree so am i right in thinking this is where my pen gets its infestation from and if so besides fire is there anything i can do to stop it!This year it seems really bad if I stand up by the tree for 10 mins I can feel mites on me and am worried about taking them in the house! 

[Helenaj]

I asked my husband about this (he fells trees for a living) and he says you can legally remove the branches that hang over your property if they are causing a hazard. However, you have to ask your neighbours if they want the wood back before disposing of it, or just put it over the fence, otherwise they can have you charged with theft of the wood!

Also check if the tree is listed (unlikely with an Elder - your neighbour should know) as you may not be able to trim it back.

[lazydog]

thanks for the info,I did already know that i could trim the growth my side and do!
But the insects are blowing out with the leaves so cutting branches off will still shake the blighter's off  I am concerned about the infestation to me and the hens!
It has never been like this before but this year there must be millions of bugs up there,hopefully with the wind we are having the leaves will all be fallen and I can rack them up and burn them.  

[joyfull]

they may not be red mites but tasty little bugs that your birds will love - could you photograph some with a penny or similar at the side so we can gauge the size?