how could i let this happen

long story, so bear with me.

a couple of weeks back dad got me two white crested black polands, and the same week i got a gold brahma and a transylvanian naked neck.

i have a main coop and 3 maternity / hospital coops.

with 3 broodies, i made the terrible stupid, know better, mistake of letting the new ones straight in themain coop.

BIG BIG mistake.

every night when i shut the girls up, i go in the coop with a torch, make sure everyones in bed and have a good nosey about for the dreaded red mite.

and last week i found it.

bright and early the next morning, coop was jet washed, smothered in jeyes, then red mite spray, and all the girlies had a good spray too.

all seemed well, egg production gone down, but nothing else. until this morning.

fraggle was sitting on 5 eggs, all due tomorrow. this morning eggies stone cold and fraggle looking right sory for herself.

another major mistake on my part. i didnt do the 3 broody coops.fraggle looked like she'd been eaten alive over night..

ever the optimist, big basket, lined with a towell and microwavable wheat pad and crossed everything. constant checking of thermometer and back and forth to microwave.

fraggle had a bath, big spray of mite spray, and wounds treated. and let her out for a bit of a wander.

then off to feed store, 2 eggies in each boob, not fun when one is still sore.

feed store doesnt stock poultry sheild or diatom  :twisted:

so back home, eggies back into the basket, fraggle drenched again and left to dry in the sunshine.

order poultry sheild and diatom online, jopefully be here first thing.

out again with jet washer etc.

miracle happens, one eggy pipped, so basket was placed in a dark cupboard and being the cruel thing that i am, put fraggle in the cupboard too.

so at the minute, fraggle is looking so much better, has eaten and drunk. one eggy has hatched and second now pipped.

absolutely exhausted and feeling really really guilty

ok.. redmiting my lot tomorrow.. again! I'm just as stupid.. new one is tucked up with my original two.

Oh and i've read that Raid ant powder kills redmite.. just in case you can get that while you wait for other stuff.

Wow, well done on the egg rescue. All these things I don't know/think about really worries me. Went searching for Northern mites today after the conversation about ducks and red mites. Don't even know what they are!

If you buy any second hand poultry equipment you have to be really careful to thouroughly clean it before use too.

Pictures of the chicks when they hatch please Babe  

Wow well done Babe

I had similar problem with the buff orps back in march only that was lice, (easier to deal with) you could kick yourself afterwards.

The main thing is you've sorted it now and eggs don't seem any the worst for the calamity

Have 5 seconds breather then go get the camera ready  

ooh Babe your boobies don't half come in for some stick, i don't think you should feel guilty, it can happen to anyone, can you dust birds routinely to deter red mite? and if so how often? i would hate my girls to get them and think i would find it almost impossible to rid the hen house of them if it became infested, i've not seen any sign of them and have dusted the girls with red mite powder once, and put the powder in their shavings, and in the straw in the nesting boxes when i clean them out once a week, i also clean the house with jayes fluid and keep the girls out till it's dry (there's usually a que to get back in) is there anything else i should be doing? so do not want them to get the little bu****s

I'd have err'd on that side of caution Freecycler yes.. can't see it being safe as not designed for it. But for the nooks and crannies like roof it might work.. or when killing what you can see.. The site i read it on was a forum that i lurk on (don't post) and the person said they 'watched them die'... sounds good to me!!

Even if used to kill 'em, then wash it off and put the good stuff on to protect against more it's gotta help. I paid £8 for a container of redmite powder.