Does ***** fluid fill red mites?

[new2gyo]

Hi there, does ***** Fluid kill red mites? Also, what powder/remedy would you recommend for the chickens to kill the red mites?

Thanks in advance

[RichmondHens]

Check out the sticky on red mite. Loads of info on there. My personal choice is creosote. Kills existing mites and repels others for months to come. You just need a spare house (or shed) to decant the hens into temporarily. It is an old fashioned remedy I know but it works. You just have to make sure the house is thoroughly dry and aired before putting hens back in. This can take up to a week or more in damp weather. Check out the design of your hen house. This is where the problem usually starts. Roofing felt is a no no. Also those tongue and groove designs - masses of joins that are just calling for mite to live in them.

By the way, the well known poultry vet Victoria Roberts advises against use of ***** Fluid around hens because it contains toxic phenols.

You can dust the chickens themselves with a product such as Diatom, this will help repel the mites. Works on lice too.

[frias]

Well my vet recommends ***** but I've tried it plus Diatoms plus Smite plus Red mite powder plus power washing plus steaming plus a paint stripper but the only thing that seemed to work was Creosoting the coop. It's a pain and alternative sleeping arrangements have to be made while it dries but it does work.

[frias]

Oh look, I type so slow RH has got there first!

[RichmondHens]

I was a very fast typist in a former life!!

[new2gyo]

The shed is brick though so painting in creosote is a no no

[frias]

Are the perches wood? Red mite hide in cracks and crevices especially the ends of perches during the day and come out at night to feed on the chickens blood.

[Snadger]

I use a permethrin spray which kills em DEAD & leaves a white coating which protects against re infection.

[Glutton4...]

Smite works extremely well, in my experience. I buy the 1 Litre container with the pump dispenser, and fill a 3 Litre hand pump sprayer. I keep this handy, and use it periodically, as a preventative measure. I usually only get the little blighters in the nest-boxes, which are outside, and these get zapped as soon as they appear.

[new2gyo]

If I creosote the wooden nest boxes would this Taint the eggs? Eg if they got damp? We do have wooden perches so will give that a try thanks

[Glutton4...]

You can't do it whilst the Hens are using it. You must leave it at least a week for the Creosote to dry, and for the fumes to disperse.

[BUFFS]

i used the smite powder all over the floor of the coop,then put in my 2ft x 2ft plant tray and after lifting one end, i dropped it,quickly closing the coop lid quickly as the powder swirled all about,covering everywhere,i did this accidentally the first time but as it gave 100% success i repeated each week and after trying for ages,found a system that worked,never had any more signs of red mite,good luck with it,they are nasty little b...ers.