[babe]

if anyone with an eglu would like to test it..... i will be glad to send some red mite  :twisted:

[KathyH]

We are still getting a few red mites each week - sort of a teaspoonful and always dead. I think we are still getting hatchings and the diatrom gets them as they emerge. They are still getting a feed from the chooks though - though not as many of them so not such an impact.
We are still dusting the coop every other day and throwing out all bedding etc.
Its been a lot of hard work and still going - but we are slowly winning I hope.
Our two remaining chooks are ok but one is still missing a lot of feathers although she seems healthy and is still laying so fingers crossed that its a question of time for the feathers to grow back.

We have stuck with the diatrom and poultry shield but may get some Melbenex soon.

Has this been a particularly bad year for red mite do you think? I seem to have heard of lots more people having trouble with them than before. Maybe its the wet weather? Does humidity favour them? I know that lots of insects do like these conditions.
Depressing that you can still get them in an Eglu One of the main reasons for spending so much on a coop was the idea of avoiding them

[blulagoo]

P00rstudent

I have a cube and I love it almost as much as the hens. Mine range in the garden during the day as I don't htink there is that much room in the runs (unless I spend £200 on extension runs!)

When we go away we knock up a portable run that goes around the cube to make it easier for the friends looking after them - just means they don't have to chase them around the garden or worry too much about Mr F.

I would recommend a cube although they are expensive.

[blulagoo]

Babe, kind as your offer is - NO THANKS!!!!!

[Aunt Sally]

Do you have a wooden coop or a cube Kathy ? (I can't remember)

It's very rare to get red mite in an eglu or a cube.  But if you do get them it's generelly very easy to get rid of them as there are so few places for them to hide !

[KathyH]

We have a wooden coop Aunt Sally. It is inside a large fenced area and up off the ground (they have a ladder!) so they can shelter under it in extreme rain.
I did want a cube but was overruled on price grounds! I have needless to say pointed this out several times now - usually while we were scrubbing the coop out with jeyes fluid and while wearing shower caps, boiler suits and standing in the pouring rain! This has not been popular  :scratch: can't think why  :tongue:

[Aunt Sally]

Yes, one good scrub out with a jet washer and a good dusting of diatom would get rid of it in a cube.  No jayes or poultry shield needed !

[KathyH]

Sounds excellent! Now where did I put that lottery ticket....?!

[Aunt Sally]

Lasts many, many, many times longer than a wooden coop and you save a FORTUNE on chemicals  

[KathyH]

I will add that to my list of reasons why the investment is worth it Aunt Sally!
thanks

[Yolky]

I have an eglu and love love love it. The poo trays take seconds to clean and when I do my big clean (with the pressure washer) I can take it apart, clean it and have it back together in about 5minutes.