fleas/mite

[dexterdoglancashire]

Thanks for the advice everyone. I never realised that red mite could be "caught" this way. Have got shavings from a local mill and straw from a local supplier (not direct from farm). Shall have to keep my eyes open. Question: Which is best for chooks, straw or hay? Sterilised packets for bails?

[MaureenHall]

Thanks for the advice everyone. I never realised that red mite could be "caught" this way. Have got shavings from a local mill and straw from a local supplier (not direct from farm). Shall have to keep my eyes open. Question: Which is best for chooks, straw or hay? Sterilised packets for bails?

Bernie I personally wouldn't use either straw or hay inside the coop or nest boxes, I use straw in the run for the chooks to kick around in though. Hay's not good either, but it's a bit too early in the morning for me to remember why Use something like Hemcore or dust-extracted wood shavings inside the coop, it's comfy, and it composts well too

[Suechooks]

Bernie I personally wouldn't use either straw or hay inside the coop or nest boxes, I use straw in the run for the chooks to kick around in though. Hay's not good either, but it's a bit too early in the morning for me to remember why Use something like Hemcore or dust-extracted wood shavings inside the coop, it's comfy, and it composts well too

Hay can harbour mould spores I think Mo but only if its not "good" hay ie properly dried before baling.
I agree with you there - Hemcore inside and straw in the runs.

[davefromthechipie]

Bleach ,fleaspray ,redmite spray then sulferbomb seems to stopped them I think as someone said the roofs going to have to come off at some point to finish the job ....
the ladys combs are getting redder by the day ,Its shocking how fast they recover .
Thanks again all

[RichmondHens]

When the roof comes off you will be shocked at how many will be under there. We stripped off the outer cladding of an old hen house we had and there were tons under there. We now build all our houses with single skin exterior grade ply to reduce mite hiding places.

[Hilary B]

Never had a mite problem (not bad enough to notice), but the only time my chooks were 'confined' at all was so far north I suspect the horrid little things don't go there (and not VERY confined then). I always used straw in nest box, never anything elsewhere.