Hey there this is what I posted when I first joined regarding Red Mite. However have a look at Hillfooters advice to...excellent.
Hello everyone. i'm new to this forum. I've been keeping hens for over 15 years and I can honestly say that red mite are the one thing that would in the end make me give up poultry keeping, however I thought I would share what I do.
When you find an infestation...DONT PANIC..and rush out with the scrubbing brushes and broom Jeys and bleach. Step back take a breath and think. We know that the red mite can live away from the birds and house for some considerable time so you need to spray the contaminated house AND bedding with Poultry Shield in situ. If you empty it untreated you are rescuing them and they will crawl all over you, the house and the area you are working in! Go and have a cup of coffee. Come back and empty the treated house as carefully as you can trying not to drop too much on the ground or 'fluff' it up in the air, of all bedding and put in in black plastic bags and seal with a good tight knot at the top. Either burn it or dispose of it. DO NOT PUT IT ON THE COMPOST. The little blighters will only hop back on the hens if they scrabble through it or onto you and back to the hen house.
Clean the hen house very carefully either with a pressure washer or a hose pipe allow to dry. Poultry shield again. Once dry liberally sprinkle diocrematious (spelling???) earth everywhere in as may cracks and crevices as possible paying special attention to perch ends. Put old feed sacks split down one side on the floor of the house and newspaper on top of the feed sacks. Use shredded newspaper in the nest boxes to. Keep all this paper to a minimum. You MUST MUST MUST repeat all of the above within 5 days as the Poultry Shield will only kill the adults not the eggs. Keep this routine up for several weeks. Once you no longer see mites return to your usual bedding but keep vigilant and if the mites return get back into the routine of Poultry Shield and feed sacks/newspaper bedding.
Perches. If possible remove the perches spray with Poultry Shield and allow to dry. Clean very carefully of all caked on poop and debris. Creosote the perches. I rotate them by having two spare ones (a good fencing firm will probably make them for you), allowing the creosote to 'dry' for two weeks before putting back in and taking two out. Before I put the fresh perches back in I make up a mixture of diocrematious (oh goodness just can't spell this word..you know what I mean) earth and water mixed to the consistency of pouring cream or gloss paint and paint the perches and ends working it into the wood, allowing them to dry before putting them in the hen house.
The product that Bowden and Knight sells is called Ficam W. They will not sell Millenex (again spelling???) to people who are not commercial poultry keepers. I have not had to resort to Ficam W yet but keep it in stock 'just in case'. You have to be suited and booted to use it. Invest in Poultry Shield. It can be bought from Flytes of Fancy at about £18 for 5 litres. Give your girls Poultry Tonic (or similar), Apple Cider Vinegar and granulated garlic in their water. Pop along to your local greengrocer and ask if they would keep their scraps for your girls. They love a bit of lettuce, cabbage etc to give them a boost. If the green grocer gives you potatoes, carrots or other root veg just bake them..Yum! You will soon have happy hens, as their strength is no longer being sapped by the mites that can take up to 5% of a hens blood a night. Your girls will once again repay you with their beautiful eggs and fun personalties. Happy hen keeping and give those red mite a run for their money (and yours)!!!
Orchardlady x