Red Mite Alert!

[Mrs T]

If you get to the point where you itch when you walk in the shed, and the mites are on the eggs, then you have a bad infestation which has been there a while. Mostly, the first signs of the beginning of an infestation are as Sue says, a small clump or colony hiding in a crack or crevice which gets squashed as you run your finger along the crack, and your finger gets blood on it.

If you get into the habit of looking for mite (winter and summer although they are less common in winter) each time you clean out the hen house you will soon spot the beginnings of an invasion and can deal with it before it gets out of hand.

Thanks RichmondHens... I'll be keeping a look out.... and my fingers crossed!

[Aberdeenplotter]

You got any connection with Durham Hens Alec? Two posts and two hefty punts for Durham Hens

[baldrick]

if you run your fingernail over any black/grey or red clump of dots they will click. Its quite therapeutic! Diatoms are a wonderful thing. Better than all the sprays in the world as preventer.