Best mite free coop.

[p54jes]

Hi, Im about to invest/make a new coop for my birds, my dilemma is are plastic one's as good at keeping mite down as they say or shall I just make another one from wood.
Cheers.

[elizajay]

I think that plastic has the advantage of fewer places for mites to hide, depending on which you get. Some are made of recycled plastic and come apart completely so if you do get mites you can clean all the bits thoroughly, whereas with wood there will always be hiding places. I treated my perches and found loads of mites streaming out of the tiniest knot in the wood and out of screw holes.

[nick the grief]

prevention is easier than cure whatever sort you get ... I prefer Wood but you have to keep your eye on them.

[Duckdad]

Hi, We have had an eglu for 3 years now and never had a problem with mites, the nieghbour had a wooden ark and was constantly getting red mite, plastic coops come apart very easily for cleaning which we do every week, i highly recommend a plastic coop.

[RichmondHens]

I have to say I would imagine hens prefer wood, its more natural, but I have no first hand experience of using a plastic house so am probably not qualified to comment! Preparation is key to wooden houses. If making your own do so with as few joints as possible - we make ours from single sheets of ply in a box design with hinged roof so I can peer right in when cleaning out and check out every crevice. Creosote any places that mite may like to hide and chuck Diatom about copiously. Keep birds regularly dusted too. We never have mite problems in our own houses but I have bought in a few second hand ones which are poorly designed and have obviously had problems. We take them apart and creosote the lot before putting back together.

[p54jes]

Thanks for the replies, it seems down to personal preference so I need to have a good think and decide if plastic are worth the extra not
p54jes