[Roughlee Handled]

Some of you may remember Bodgers theory on Mite and swings.
http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=25742.msg304631


I was thinking about my new chuckhome and thought about plastic roosting bars! So the red mite can not live in or on the bar.
Where could I get em I thought.
Rrrr Plastic drain pipe.

2.5M Square 65mm (2.5")Down Pipe


Your thoughts please.

[richyrich7]

Will the birds be able to grip ok do you think, good idea though so I'd deffo try it. At least they would be easy to clean 

[8doubles]

I think that you would end up with mite in the rope , i use planed and sanded 2"x2" with the corners rounded off which sits on metal pins for easy removal. The ends of the perch are coated with a mix of vaseline and tea tree oil for about 1" in to slow the mites down but the perch is taken out every two days and any red mite found are killed with a gas blowtorch.

Kev

[Roughlee Handled]

Will the birds be able to grip ok do you think

I had thought about it and I am not sure. But after a while they would get scratched and was thinking of starting that off with a bit of wire wool.

[richyrich7]

It's worth trying with the wire wool or even a mid grade sandpaper, you'll soon know I'd imagine the hens will refuse to roost if it's not suitable.

 I found a little colony of red mite yesterday under my perches 

[Roughlee Handled]

OK you have made me mind up I will have to give it ago. Just need these chicks to grow up.

[SnooziSuzi]

I suppose if you had narrow enough drainpipe and either strong plastic or metal chains to hang from then there's nowhere for the redmite to live in.

I haven't seen Bodgers post but wouldn't they all fall off the swing every timeanother one jumped on?? 

[Aunt Sally]

Try chain instead of rope perhaps.

I don't think its the wood that's the problem but the nooks that are created where it's ftouches ther purch rests at the ends.

[Roughlee Handled]

...I don't think its the wood that's the problem but the nooks that are created where it's ftouches ther purch rests at the ends.

Very true Aunty.  As long as the roosting bars are removable and get removed and cleaned I suppose I should be OK. 
richyrich7 are you going to be parafining your coop again soon? I think you did that last year. Oh and blow torching the corners (before you have paraffined)

[richyrich7]

yes nearly big clean time ( putting it off  ) trying to get hold of smallish quantities of paraffin seems the problem, I'll have to bight the bullet and buy 5l of the stuff probably only use a 1/2 of it at most. It'l get a spray of jeyes as well 

[gcb]

Just about used to my new birds now. Can somebody tell me how I should check for red mite and lice. What do they look like ? Are they easy to see?
geoff

[Vember]

Best time to spot the critters is at night Geoff.

Take a torch into the coop and check along the perches and around the hen's feet


Sarah

[8doubles]

The full sized mite is pin head sized and pale brown turning bright red after a feed of blood.
They tend to group up under the perch in cracks and dents where they are safe from being trodden on by the chooks. I think they must leave a chemical message where they gather as new mites will be found in the same place as previous infestations.

Kev

[richyrich7]

what they've not told you is that red mite quite like a bite of us humans too, so make sure you don't give them the opportunity to dine on you 

[Roughlee Handled]