[joyfull]

Yes it's true even this early in the year the little blighters are here alive and kicking - or rather that should be alive and biting  .
What am I waffling on about I hear you ask - flippin red mite that's what 
Have chosen today to start sorting the wooden coops by using timber treatment and there they were as red and as bold as brass - so 2 coops treated and hopefully another couple tomorrow when I get back from a trip to Sheffield. Then another 2 on Monday and the final 2 on Tuesday.
However today's good news (well for me and my chooks anyway) is that I won £250 on last nights new 5 lotto jobby so with this and my savings from the egg money I have been in touch with Solway plastics and have ordered my first giant plastic ark - just now need to get saving quickly for a second one and another eglu or doodlehouse for the poots (got to keep up with Evie2 - if they are good enough for her poots then they must be good enough for mine  ).

[min200]

The dreaded mites 

Still at least you have got a new one coming!!!!!!!!!!!!  Lucky you!!!

[Chrysalis]

Sorry to hear about your mites.    we are keeping everything crossed and will dust the girls tomorrow and clean out really carefully.  Thanks for the warnings.  Hope the new house comes soon and is good. 

[Junie]

I have never seen red mites, do they like any particular place on the birds? Where should I look out for them ?

[joyfull]

they live in the coops not on the bird and only come out to feed at night. You check by sliding a white piece of paper in the nooks and crannies of your coop and if it comes out with red smears then you have redmite or you can go out at night armed with a torch and you will see little red (grey if they haven't fed) dots then it's redmite. They are very tiny. Hillfooter put a photo of some on - so will just pop into the archives to see if I can find it for you 

[joyfull]

here's Hillfooters photo:-

http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=72773.msg829682

[kerridwen]

I remember my dads pigeon loft having to be dusted for these every week. I also remember sitting on the slabs during hot summers and squeeshing them. I found loads of them in the fence in my back garden last year and I don't have my chickens yet and have no pets either so I'll need to keep a watchfull eye out for them.

Thanks for the heads up.

[Lindeggs]

I refuse to click on that link, Joyfull!  I clicked on it when HF first posted it and was itchy for days!   

Sorry to hear about your mites and thanks for the warnings.  I've only had my birds for 3 weeks but with all the wild birds around here I will have to be vigilant.  Mite inspection coming up!

[joyfull]

they seem to be very early this year perhaps because we have had some nice weather - admittedly I have only seen a few in one coop but it can soon get out of control  .

[Geo]

Dear Joyful
Heard about your lotto win. Did I mention that i am needing to buy some more treats for my chooks and a small donation would be very grateful.
As I have managed to get in first with my appeal may I warn you that others may follow

[GrannieAnnie]

I remember my dads pigeon loft having to be dusted for these every week. I also remember sitting on the slabs during hot summers and squeeshing them. I found loads of them in the fence in my back garden last year and I don't have my chickens yet and have no pets either so I'll need to keep a watchfull eye out for them.

Thanks for the heads up.

The ones you find on your fence are red spider mites, not the red mite the chickens get.

[joyfull]

Dear Joyful
Heard about your lotto win. Did I mention that i am needing to buy some more treats for my chooks and a small donation would be very grateful.
As I have managed to get in first with my appeal may I warn you that others may follow

  sorry you are too late Grannie Annie asked me alot earlier  although she did check first if I had missed some 0's off the amount (just 1 more number and it would have been either 25,000 or 250,000  ). Still it's a nice chunk of cash towards my new plastic ark so some of my girls and boys will be happier I hope 

[GrannieAnnie]

Needless to say my ask of a loan was politely refused!!   

[bantam novice]

Thanks for the warning, Joy.  One coop inspection coming up!

[evie2]

I like the fact the doodlehouse can be taken apart for a good clean, they don't look bad either