[joyfull]

I thought that I ought to put this photo up again that Hillfooter posted just to show everybody what red mites look like. The ones in the photo are red showing that they have recently been feeding. If you squish them you get a blood smear. If they haven't fed then they are grey. They really are tiny.

here is the link.

[Spana]

Can i add my photos as well  They might help someone who doesn't know what to look for.



The before feeding stage. They are so small that unless you know what you are looking for they are easy to miss.





They need to have a blood feed before they can breed, so if you can catch them at the before feeding stage you save a lot of work and stress for your chickens

[joyfull]

Thanks Spana, great to see the before feeding photos 

[andy46]

Thats a good idea for all us newbie chicken owners who would not know what they where looking for thanks xxx

[GREEN FINGERED NOT]

Hi  I ended up with a bad infestation over a year ago as my chicken shed is a 6x4 garden shed that has been adapted, it has a tar roof and is awaiting its new non tar roof in the next few weeks.  As I do not normally go in after dark I really had not noticed the mites and it took some work to get rid of them.  I sprayed every day and also used very soapy warm water as the mite has a waxy coat.  However I also went in every night and did a lot of squishing with my hand and then had a shower straight after as well as washing the clothes I had on - all a great phaff but worth it for the chickens - The easiest option would have been to burn the shed and replace it with a new one, however, with the cost implications of that it was not practical at the itme so tried those options as well as powder on the floor and end of perches in the shed and have not had any visible return of the mite - I do make sure that once a week a go into the shed at night with a torch and shine it along the perch to see if there is any movement.  Hope you never have a problem with them.

[wildwitchy]

I had a very bad time with the things about 2 years ago. Tried all sorts (minor and major chemicals) and tbh I had to get rid of my wooden coops and go plastic. It's the only way to go. I wouldn't use wood again for my poultry now, it was a nightmare. They even got on me. 

[joyfull]

me too which is why I have plastic too - even though plastic coops can still get red mites they are far easier to eradicate the little blighters.

[morbidia]

As a fairly new chicken keeper I got quite a shock when I discovered red mite in my coop. I knew they were a risk and kept a look out for them but to be honest wasn't too sure what I was looking for but I soon found out, I treated my coop and thought I had sorted the problem out but then noticed some more so I decided to take my coop apart. I was horrified to discover that my coop was badly infested and that what I had thought was a minor problem was a massive infestation. They were in all the gaps and joints of my wooden coop which I couldn't see until I took it apart. I absolutely blitzed the coop and then I applied Diatom to all the nooks and crannies with a soft paintbrush and also put some on the bedding. This seems to have got rid f the initial infestation and I keep checking and reapplying the Diatom in the hope that it will do the trick. I also put vaseline on the underside and ends of my perches then sprinkled diatom onto the vaseline, I haven't found any on my perches since then
When I can afford it I am going to buy a plastic coop as I think this will be easier to keep mite free

[wildwitchy]

Well as I said I had to get rid of my wooden coops as like you morbida, they were in all the joints etc, so I just took it apart and chucked it. After that I used a plastic keter garden storage box & put a perch in it which served well but I still wasnt happy with it. This year when I got my polish,pekins & ducks I bought two plastic barrels (screwd some plastic pipes to bottom to make them stable, cut a square hole on the top to collect the eggs - when they lay!!) & and covered cat litter box and I use them now. The ducks use the barrels and the chix all seem to squash into the cat litter box! The barrels were £10 each and the litter box was £17. They are in a walk in coop though. No red mite and easy to keep clean - just soapy water & bit of disinfectant.

See pic.

[Angela B]

I had persistent problems with red mite and tried various solutions, best I found was to mix Diatom powder with water to a thin paste and paint it all over the inside of the hen house (wooden) and any where else the critters were seen. It leaves a powdery reside that seems to have done the trick. I also sprinkle it on their bedding.

[joyfull]

here is Hillfoooters recipe for mixing diatom to a slurry for painting.

[Chippet]

Pics are great thank you!!

[alaj]

Wildwitchy! What a fantastic idea! I just scuttled out to the kitchen to show my luvverly husband who is almost as impressed
In general though, this thread has been handy since we had spotted an odd looking bug in the old henhouse (due to be pulled down any day,its our old summerhouse and not really ideal) and its been a process of elimination. Didn't think it was a red mite but now I'm 150% sure.
Thanks x

[wildwitchy]

Wildwitchy! What a fantastic idea! I just scuttled out to the kitchen to show my luvverly husband who is almost as impressed

Thank you alaj! I must say i've got to blow my own trumpet and they have been good! I refuse to pay for Eglu's. They can be swept & hosed out in 5 minutes. Plus they're cheap!

[joyfull]

Please note that you can still get redmites in plastic housing but they are easier to eradicate.