[flangey]

Hello, I need some help please.  I've got red mite in my Hen house and am absoloutly mortified! It's only a year old and I clean out every day and disinfect weekly.  I cleared all the shavings a few days ago and felt something on my arm and saw these tiny little things running over my hand! I've now sprayed with Poultry Shield and scrubbed it, inside and out three times, they're still there!!! I put white paper down yesterday after the third scrubbing and couldn't believe it when I saw these little dots on there.  What can I do now to get rid of them, all advice greatly appreciated!!

[carolbriar]

I don't know I'm afraod.  I thought Poultry Shield was good at killing red mites and was going to get some myself.  I use Diatom but don't really know how effective it is - quite a few members use it.  I phoned up a poultry place a little while ago and they use diatom.  There are some strong red mite sprays - I think the one my oh got me was Nettex which kills red mite and other crawlies.  I just hope I never have the problem as it sounds horrible both for the hens and yourself.

[joyfull]

If all else fails there is a product called milben-ex which you add to water and then spray (however do not apply in the presence of the birds) which should get them, but are they hiding under the roof felt? If so you should strip that off and replace with a product called onduline (coraline is another product - the same just different manufacturer both from B*Q or builders merchants). Strip out your coup and treat all the bits, get into every nook and crannie. Treat your girls with something like frontline as well just to be sure. Make sure your coup is fully dry and aired before you rebuild it.
You can buy milben-ex from either solway feeders or direct from bowden and knight.
This stuff is very strong and is really a last resort so ideally you yould go down the poultry shield or harkers duramitex route along with roof replacement first.

[flangey]

Thanks Joyfull,  the roof of the house is wooden so fortunately I won't need to replace that, but I'll strip everything else out and have one more go with poultry shield.  I've got plenty of frontline so I'll give the girls a dose of that as well.  Fingers crossed that will work, if not I'll give the other stuff a go!

[Spana]

I know others wont agree but I think you cant beat creosote.  Not the stuff you buy from DIY shops but the proper stuff from agricultural merchants.
Early one morning on a good drying day let your hens out and do the whole house if you can.  Remove anything that is removable first  so you can get under and behind.  Do cracks in the wood well.  You'll see the little biters running for their lives.  Do the perch ends and supports well and the nest boxes.  By evening it will still honk quite a bit but you will be able to let the hens back in.  After that keep an eye on the perch ends and supports and do them again if you think its necessary .
Before you find red mite there is a stage where they look like minute specks of white on the edges of cracks in the wood, you would never think it was anything unless you look with a magnifying glass.  Its after this that you get the explosion of red mites.

[joyfull]

it's not so much that we disagree with you but as it's use is illegal unless treating previously creosoted items and then this should only be carried out by licensed people we cannot condone the use of a carcinogenic substance. So please do not advocate it's use on here, we do have a legal obligation, thanks.

[Spana]

Fair enough

[pigeonpie]

Hi,
I bought some red mite killer liquid from the local farm supplies shop when I had my first infestation.  You have to mix the liquid with water and wear protective clothing as it is pretty potent but safe for the birds once dry.  I cleared all the woodshavings out and sprayed the house as directed then made sure it was properly dry before the girls were let anywhere near it.  I had to repeat this a few times to get on top of the problem.  I'm not sure what the difference is between this and poultry shield but this is evidently the stuff that is used by farmers for clearing whole buildings so pressumably should be pretty effective. 
I now use diatom powder every week when I clean the girls out, sprinkled around liberally.  So far, I haven't had another major problem but have seen a few of the little blighters on the edges of the perches now and again but they soon disappear with another dusting of powder.  If it gets bad again I would spray again. 

[joyfull]

sounds the same as the milben-ex, can you not remember it's name?

[pigeonpie]

It is just called Super Red Mite liquid and is manufactured by Labtec. 

[flangey]

Thanks so much for all this advice, I've taken everything that can be removed out to day and given it another good going over with poultry shield (4th time lucky)!!If that fails I'll try the millben-ex that Joy has suggested and see what happens, I'll keep you posted!