[Zak the Rabbit]

bit of an odd topic i know, wasnt really sure how to describe it!

I want to know what factors control the attraction of red mites to chickens.

Based on the way i get them on me, it would seem temperature is the key long range influence, but they dont bite me, so what factors allow them to diffrentiate? Ive found no information on this.

Im going to try an experiment tonight. The girls will be inconvenienced for a while because i wont let them back in the house when it gets dark. Instead, shortly after dusk a small heater will be set up inside the house (an old tea light powered vaporiser). I want to see if this causes them to be drawn out of their hiding places.

I'll then hit them with everything ive got :twisted:

[Roughlee Handled]

Not sure what a old tea light powered vaporiser is sound like some thing off a star trek.  The Bu@@ers do not like light.

[Aunt Sally]

I'll be interested to see what happens Zak  :!:

[Roughlee Handled]

I must always read my post's before submitting them.
I must always read my post's before submitting them.
I must always read my post's before submitting them.
I must always read my post's before submitting them.
....
What I meant was ....Not sure what a old tea light powered vaporiser is. Sounds like something off of star trek. The Bu@@ers do not like light
so not sure if it gives out light or not.

As i am waging war against the little critters myself please let me know
1. What is a old tea light powered vaporiser?
2. Did it work?

[mumsy]

An old tea light vaporiser is what we used to use for the kids when they had bad colds etc!!!  a bit like an oil burner but you would put a cold tar/vicks based oil in it to unblock their noses at night nowadays ita a plug in thing :roll:

[Aunt Sally]

2. Did it work?

We won't know untill tomorrow dear  :roll:

[poultrygeist]

We had one of those as kids. The smell of coal tar still takes me back  

It may be that they go for a certain range of temp and the reason you don't appear to get bitten is your hard, thick, gnarled old skin    

On a thread a while back, some of the ladies were saying they got bitten where their husbands didn't seem to. It's either skin thickness or hormones.  :shock:

It'll be good if you can get it work and then coat it in something sticky or toxic. Good idea.

Rob

[Daisycow]

This is interesting, cos the vet recently told me he has been researching these mites, and he suggested I try (if I had the power and means to do so) rigging a light in the coop that switches on for 5 or 7 mins, then off for 5 or 7 mins then on again then off again etc, and the idea is, a) they hate light so will leave (eventually) and b) they cant breed, therefore they will leave. I think I understood him right. Thinking about it, I dont know how you keep them out once they have gone, but thought it was worth saying!!  
Right now we cant rig this up in the coop so I dont know if it works or not, but someone else may be able to try, or has tried??

[Zak the Rabbit]

2. Did it work?

We won't know untill tomorrow dear  :roll:

actually, probably sunday! scrubbed the plan for tonight.

yes its one of those old coal tar vaporiser jobs, dont think that much light will get out of it. Im not sure if the idea of a timed light wouldnt disturb the birds? wouldnt think a simple light would have enough output to be effective though.

As mentioned about them biting the women but not blokes, i can see that being likely if they use a hormone/pheromone system to find the chooks. Might have to homogenise the missus and run her through a spectrometer  (if you didnt understand that, well dont matter)
Perhaps if theres someone whos got a cockerill could see how there effected by the mites?

If i could prove they use a pheromone to home in then we could be on the way to a trap for them!

[Roughlee Handled]

Like your thinking. Like a selective  sticky fly trap. You can get them for certain green house pests. Mrs Artois is having an affect on my brain and I cant think of the name.

[Zak the Rabbit]

thats it! though how best to identify the required chemical will be tricky to work out. Making it once you know what it is is easy, college chemistry lab stuff!

[Aunt Sally]

Extract from this web page

http://www.solwayparrotclub.co.uk/red_mite.htm

Blood sucking insects are attracted to many chemical and physical factors, including carbon dioxide, body heat, chemicals in sweat, and on the surface of skin.

[Zak the Rabbit]

just been reading this research abstract

http://scienceandresearch.homeoffice.gov.uk/animal-research/publications-and-reference/001-abstracts/abstracts-2005/nov/immunisation-of-domestic-red-fow?view=Html

seems theres work in progress for a vaccine, not sure how that would stop the mites biting, but maybe more likely reduce any harmfull effects.



unfortunatly Aunty it doesnt say which chemical they like! I know that mosquitos use CO2 as a signal (i try not to exhale when going past the trees at night!)

[Aunt Sally]

Blood sucking insects are attracted to many chemical and physical factors, including carbon dioxide, body heat, chemicals in sweat, and on the surface of skin.

[Zak the Rabbit]

not sure if thats to say carbon dioxide is what the mites like, or to help those who dont know what CO2 is

I dont think CO2 will be the signal for red mite, as its not selective, they would bite anything that breathes. It could be part of the way they find the birds though, although i think the body heat idea more likely for these pests.