[alisonwo]

During the past month I have sprayed with poultry shield, scrubbed with weak jeyes fluid and dusted with diatom, poured boiling water over everything I can (except girls), baked the perches in a hot oven and used a paint stripper hot air gun (carefully), twice previously and again today whilst having a chest infection and feeling rotten, me not the girls! the nest boxes ended up in front of the fire trying to dry them in this damp weather before the dark descended.  Not a bad infestation caught whilst still minor, but all to no avail, just can't get rid of them.  Life was so much easier when all I had to do was go and buy free range eggs from Asda.  Can I have a group hug.   

[Caralou]

You can have a big hug, but I may just pass more mites back to you. I've been nearly in tears with it as it just wont stop raining so the coops cant dry out in time and to top it off the little 'uns coop is now flooded as well (despite being at the top of the garden and the garden is on a hill so it should drain well). I've given myself a chill today as was cleaning yet again in the pouring rain so I imagine it must be really horrible also having a chest infectioin and having to do it all. These little red bugs (I really wish to use a word other than bug there  ) are horrible and depressing for us and too poor chooks. Hugs xxxxxxxxxx

[janet12000]

Aw. Poor you. Hug from me.  

Have you tried painting everything with liquid paraffin? Worked for me. x

[alisonwo]

Bless you Caralou!
Janet no haven't heard about liquid paraffin where do I get it?

[janet12000]

I got mine from a local small DIY shop. I think people use it to put in greenhouse heaters.
I got the tip off this forum. 
I guess the problem at this time of year is having to make sure it dries out before the chickens go back in the coop.
I feel for you I really do......I was devastated when I found my infestation.
Horrible little b***ers.

[chickenlady]

big hugs from spalding!

I found red mite in my broody coop for the 1st time the day before we went on holiday last week!  I was beside myself with worry anyway about leaving the girls for the 1st time so i sympathise with you all 

there is something out to treat red mite that foxy uses? cant remember what its called? think it starts with an M?
Debbie

[alisonwo]

Got you now Janet you mean the blue smelly stuff, as its a spirit it would dry out quickly ideal for using in the winter brilliant idea thank you.  Just have to remember not to let hubby around when doing it smoking his pipe, could have bbq chicken for supper otherwise, and no eyebrows  

[alisonwo]

Hi chickenlady wonder what the M is?  I was surprised the jeyes fluid didn't do it TBH, couldn't believe my eyes when I went to check the perches drying outside and could still see the mites.  I wonder if I could get some plastic perches or something other than wood, does everyone use wood???  Thanks for all the hugs everyone but not too tight chest very sore

[Vember]

Here you go it's called Milbenex


http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=40361.msg477971#msg477971


Sarah

[janet12000]

this is the stuff that i use.

[Caralou]

Right, I have milbenex on its way (did confuse me as i use a tablet called milbemax for working the cats and kept getting that on the searches). I'm going to give one more clean with the jeyes tomorrow and more chippings for the mudbath and then huge clean out when it arrives and will hopefully kill the little devils.

[Rubellite]

Good luck all, sending bad vibes to the red mites  

...and feeling a little guilty suggesting that good husbandry will prevent RM as per another post, as I know that isn't the case here 

[Caralou]

I don't know how mine got so bad so quick. They get daily poo picks, weekly clean outs and monthly deep clean outs. Sometimes it just happens and is bad luck 

[ehs284]

Janet, That is paraffin and it is a liquid - but - it is not "liquid paraffin" which is a light white mineral oil used in medicines and cosmetics (a sort of very runny vaseline). I guess that both would work on mites, but the paraffin you show is dangerous to inhale, not good for the environment and flammable so I'd be thinking that 'the other stuff' is more useful. Has anybody tried 'the other stuff'?
Be that as it may, best of luck to the OP as they're not very nice especially when you see them running up your arms.

[janet12000]

My stuff isn't blue.   It is a clear fluid. It does stink though.
I painted it on the chook house after a red mite infestation after advice from here..
Painted it on early morning and chooks went in at bedtime.
Worked for me and the red mites went away to God. 
Chooks happy, me happy.