[jinty1911]

Hi Folks, I haven't been on this site for a while as my 4 girlies have been happy, fit and healthy, untill I let them out 2 1/2 weeks ago and discovered Millie dead in the henhouse.  Was very upset but thought she'd had a heart attack or something as she was absolutely fine the evening before. 11 days later Maj was dead when I let them out. No sign of illness.  They were both behaving as their normal greedy selfs the previous day.  I took the other two to the vet (even though they were not ill). She reckoned it was a virus infection picked up from the masses of pigeons that have suddenly started invading the garden this year and couldn't give me anything to treat a virus.  Monday morning and Rose was dead. It never even occured to me that it could be red mite as I thought they would be lethargic and have pale combs and regularly dust the house with Diatom. I then brought the last girl into the house to sleep for the night just so she wasn't lonely (even gave her a teddy to cuddle up to).  Decided to inspect the house last night and it was swarming with mites.  I have lost 3 of my babies because I didn't realise the damage these B>>>>>>> can do. Am devasted.  Anyway I came across a post somewhere that recommended Cillit Bang Grime and Lime to get rid of these pests.  Got a bottle today and blasted the house with it and it seemed to kill them instantly!!! Has anyone else had any results with this stuff?

[GREEN FINGERED NOT]

Hi  I have never heard of it, if it has a strong odour would say you will not be able to but chicks back in until all gone.  I used a mixture of killing the bees... with my finger every night, on hot days using warm very soapy water as they have a waxy coat and carried on with my Jeyes fluid every few days along with the diatom powder - just because you think they are gone you will need to carry on for a good few weeks whatever method you find is useful.  I now inspect my henhouse at least once a month an hour or so after the girls have gone to bed just in case.......   Hope you get some more lovelies once you are sure they have gone.  Happy murdering......

[splash101]

It wouldnt surprise me in the least that it would kill them instantly.
I was unfortunate to get a tiny splash on my skin a few years ago which resulted in a nasty, deep chemical burn that took a long time to heal.
 
Glad that its useful for something  :blink:

[ANHBUC]

So sorry jinty1911.  I am just going to check my girls just in case.

[jinty1911]

I am a bit relutant to get any more because this has upset me so much.  God hindsight would be a great thing! Will prob get a new house with not so many nooks n cannys.  Have looked a Eglus but they are so expensive.  I use Cillit bang in the bathroom n never had a problem with it.  Must have skin of steel (just wish my girlies had!!) x

[Sassy]

It would be a shame to give up. It must have been awful for you and amazing that the girls weren't reluctant to go in at night but you know what to check for now and you wouldn't let it happen again. Also you need some friends for your remaining hen.

We all live and learn and we've all done things that in hindsight we feel we should have been able to prevent. Go on get some more and put this behind you

[joyfull]

Cillit bang is not licensed as a pesticide so it is not legal to use it for such a thing. No tests will have been carried out to see what effects the fumes may have on your birds let alone what effect the liquid may have on their skin and feathers. Personally I wouldn't use in my own house let alone anywhere near my birds.
Sorry for your loss but you would be best treat your coop everyday 3 days after this until clear with a recognised product such as poultry shield.

[Zak the Rabbit]

Which cillit bang product was it? They are different, for example the 'crystal clean' or whatever its called is a 5% surfactant liquid, ie a soap solution, and i would expect that to be pretty safe, but the 'grime and lime' is an acidic cleaner, containing phosphoric and sulfonic acids. This would almost certainly kill mites almost instantly, but i wouldnt use it unless you could move the chooks out completely, then thoroughly rinse the coop out, with at least three fresh changes of water (or a good ten mins with a hose), and if you used soapy water, you may as well just use poultry shield to start with.

Acid based cleaners will release hydrogen. Whatever you do, dont use an alkaline cleaner like bleach at the same time, as that will release chlorine, and the two gases together are very toxic and nasty

really, your best to stick to a general disinfectant (jeyes fluid, zoflora etc) for a very deep clean, and a good surfactant like poultry shield .

As i understand it though, you currently have no girls? in which case a nasty cleaner would be ok so long as you very thoroughly rinse it away before putting chooks in there