[milothepeanut]

Back on the evil Red Mite subject.

I have a new hen house arriving in a few days and wondered what
was the best way to treat it against red mite before I actually get them.

All ideas are welcomed.

[hillfooter]

Hi milo, That looks like a nice house.  Using a detergent based disinfectant before you have chx is a waste of time as these will only kill RM on contact and you won't have any RM in a new house.  I'd probably not bother with a chemical insecticide until the Spring.  Many people swear by Milbenex only available from Bowden & Knights via the telephone not on line.
 www.bowdenandknights.com/s26/Product-List.html

In Spring (say early March) give the house a deep clean with Poultry Shield (or similar) and spray with Milbenex.  Paint the perches and corners and crevices with a slurry of Diatom added to water to form a batter constituency "paint".  Some people sprinkle Diatom in the litter but I prefer the slurry paint as it generates less dust to iritate the chx respiratory systems but still works detering RM.  I always add a disinfectant such as Vanodine W18 to the slurry water.

Your house looks to be designed the way I like them.  A couple of ideas for useful modifications if these haven't been incorporated.  Insert a "U" channel floor between the two sets of perches with wall heights sufficient to block off the under perch area to prevent the chx getting under the perches and also protecting the house floor from wear.  If the pop hole door is conveniently centred it can be made so you can be withdrawn it through the pophole.  Place the house on slabs or bricks (helps prevent rot too) at a suitable height so that the floor channel can be layed alongside the side of the house which is removalbe such that the soiled litter can be swept into it.  The Channel can be used as a "bucket" to tip the litter into a barrow.  Makes cleaning easy!

If the nestboxes don't have shutters consider adding some (see Forsham Cottage Arks Lenham design for how these can be hinged).  The boxes can be shutted at night which will save time and effort cleaning out the droppings in the nestboxes in the morning.  Chx seem to prefer roosting in the nestboxes given the chance.
Regards

[Flowerpower136]

Lovely coop!

When I set up my chicken house, I drenched it with Poultry Shield, and I do mean drenched.  But that was in summer, and you might have problems with drying out at this time of year?  I know I do, but I'm in a damp part of the country.

Then use diatom in a 'puffer' to force it into every nook and crevice.  Because it is applied under a little pressure, it sticks.  I use Diatom in the woodshavings etc every time I change them.  It is dusty when first put in, so I do it in the morning, and it will be settled by the time they go to bed.

When things warm up, and dry up, in the spring, intend to start a regular regime of spraying with poultry shield, aiming at once a fortnight.

[milothepeanut]

Great advice. Thank you very much.

We are overrun with mites at the moment and the house we have at the moment
is so old ( and temporary LOL ) we thought a new one was in order. We will treat
the birds before letting them have the new house and try to keep on top of the RM.
One of the nicer things about this house is that it is easy to dismantle so we will take it apart and give it a good drenching in the spring. That's the plan anyway.

[matilda duck]

Nice house . Make sure you build it up off the ground on a few bricks.  Put some mesh round the bottom!  Helps to stop furry friends paying a visit!  Hope that didn't sound like I'm teaching you how to suck an egg