[Sootem]

I have just bought a new wooden coop and run - used to have an Eglu Cube!! 

I have read some horror stories about red mite in wooden coops and would like to know how I should treat coop before I introduce my hens.  Just want to try to prevent a red mite infestation.  Anything else I should know regarding wooden coops please!

[joyfull]

ooh sootem why did you get rid of the cube, I would love 2 or 3 cubes to house my lot in but they are just soooo expensive! 

[Sootem]

I haven't got rid of the cube just added a wooden coop as well!!

[8doubles]

It all depends on the coop if the boarding is overlapped most of below will not be practical as all laps and cracks are red mite des-res.
If you haven`t moved the chooks in yet buy a few tubes of cheap mastic or decorators caulk and run a line around all the corner joints smoothing it in with a wet finger,mind the splinters.

 Paint the inside white , it fills more cracks and you can see the nasties when they turn up.

Have removable perches so you can check easily and zap `em with a blowlamp

Grease or vaseline the end 1" of the perch to slow the blighters down .

Buy some poultry shield

[Sue33]

Hi Sootem,

I put diatom powder in the coop about once a month after a really good clean out, hopefully that will deter the bu**ers 

[Aunt Sally]

This might apeal to you Joyfull

[joyfull]

oh auntie if only I could afford all of those, I don't want the runs as mine all free range but would love loads and loads of eglus in my garden like that, a sight like that would really cheer me up when letting my girlies out in the pouring rain 

[Aunt Sally]

... and so easy to clean

[karlooben]

i want the pink one  ohh an the yellow thats my fav colour

[Aunt Sally]

They did a limited edition chocolate brown one a couple of years ago 

[karlooben]

not sure if i would like that one  :blink: i do love bright colours . if i win the lottery i will buy one of each colour  and talknig of red mites i must scrub my house out tomorw the weather is meant to be nicer .

[Aunt Sally]

They called it cocoa brown

[karlooben]

umm actully thats quite nice  i must admt if i only had 4 birds or soemthing then yes i would get one 

[joyfull]

ooh I think thats really cool and wouldn't be too noticable to thieves