[mumsy]

hold on Mumsy, it sounds like you have "red spider mite" on the patio, not poultry "red mite".
Red spider mite although minute are red, and if you look carefully look "spidery" whereas poultry red mite you only see at night and if you spot them during the day are a greyish colour.
We live in a stone building with flagstones out the back, and they are everywhere, but no redmite in the henhouses.
[/quote]


Oh Foxy, if only this were true!!  I stupidly jet washed the coup on the patio
If only I had just burnt the b***** thing where it was.  They are def red mite.
I got the Duramitex today........seems only effective if you get them direct.  Used 3 cans & @ £8 a can (200ml) its a tad expensive.
The dogs have them  & they have bought them indoors, the OH is going potty!!!!

[Foxy]

dont worry and stay calm! they are horrid, and love this time of year, try bathing your dogs in a shampoo for lice that might help.

[mumsy]

Have done that, they are frontlined too, although I know they don't feed from them, have sprayed them tonight with Duramitex & the itching seems to have subsided for a bit.
Have found somewhere I may be able to get Milbenex from, have to call though as their website doesn't give any info. 
To add to my cra**y week, I broke a finger in the week !! Still needed a couple of weeks off work !!

[Foxy]

Bowdens and Knights they are excellent, I use Milbenex and it has never let me down. Take precautions a mask and gloves and you should be fine! Good luck Mumsy, it always amazes me how such tiny things could cause such grief!

[mumsy]

Thats the place, thanks Foxy, sure everything will be ok soon.  The OH is a nightmare when it comes to thing like this

[janeheritage]

Mumsy, I'm so sorry for your trouble. Your story is so scary - this is why I started the thread in the first place!

Can anyone tell me where these little horrors come from? 

How can they just pop up out of nowhere?

Be afraid... be very afraid... (cue theme music from Jaws)

[Boxfanman]

Mumsy, I'm so sorry for your trouble. Your story is so scary - this is why I started the thread in the first place!

Can anyone tell me where these little horrors come from? 

How can they just pop up out of nowhere?

Be afraid... be very afraid... (cue theme music from Jaws)

They are carried by most wild birds...

[janeheritage]

Curses! A rook got into the run today! So much for my biosecurity - one of my girls had nearly killed it befor I managed to shepherd it out  :blink:

Should I give her a dusting with Diatom straight away? I have been itching to try this bird in a bag lark.

Better than other kinds of itching, I suppose... 

[mumsy]

Sorry to have hijacked your thread    Jane,
Our girls free range & when not free ranging they  have a huge run, I'm unable to cover it, although I've mentioned it loads of times
Still, we seem to be down to just a few thousand now !!!  Keeping the dogs out of the garden in the evenings has really helped.  I will be ordering the milbenex tomorrow, so hopefully in the next few days, all will be ok.

Please everyone, be vigilant all the time & don't skip on the barrier stuff!!!