Do you keep livestock? Having any problems? Want to talk about it, whether it be sheep, goats, chickens, pigs, bees or llamas, here is your place to discuss.
Last week, I found that my henhouse was infested with red mites.
I cleared out all the bedding (wood shavings), sprinkled red mite powder all over, re-bedded and also dusted the hens, rubbing the powder into their feathers.
I have been in the coop again today and I can still see the mites, alive, in the bedding.
It is like a wooden shed that has had roosts and nesting boxes added inside. The roof is that roofing stuff you get on a roll - like thick black paper with stones - rough finish. Useless description sorry.
Your best bet is to spray with diesel! It's easy & cheap & really works. Empty the bedding out of the house & using a spray bottle spray inside & out - you will not beieve the amount of red mite that will come swarming out of every nook & cranny. You may have to repeat this 2 or three times over a period of a week or so, but it really works.
If you only have a few chickens also get some Frontline (for cats) & give each chicken 2 or 3 drops at the back of the neck.
This regime worked for the red mite infestation we had this summer.
I'm a big fan of limewash and prefer to make my own, but it can be convenient to have a 20-litre bucket of the stuff handy instead of making a fresh batch to do a small job.
chickenfeed wrote:Your best bet is to spray with diesel! It's easy & cheap & really works. Empty the bedding out of the house & using a spray bottle spray inside & out - you will not beieve the amount of red mite that will come swarming out of every nook & cranny. You may have to repeat this 2 or three times over a period of a week or so, but it really works.
If you only have a few chickens also get some Frontline (for cats) & give each chicken 2 or 3 drops at the back of the neck.
This regime worked for the red mite infestation we had this summer. Good luck!
Thanks for the tip, but I think my DH would divorce me if I started spraying his precious diesel. Seriously, though - how long would it be before you can put the chooks back in?
I only have 8 fowl so Frontline would probably work, yes. Good idea. I think I have some as well.
