Comments for The Poultry Keeper Blog

Comment on Will Red Mite infest your House? by Tim Daniels

Tim Daniels — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 14:12:16 +0000

I’m afraid I don’t know. You could run some tests with a solution – take a jar and get a few mites in there by tapping them out of a crack, then add a piece of cotton wool in the bottom and moisten with your test substance – make sure the mites are on the solution (but not drowned!) then check them 12 hrs, 24 hrs etc later and see how many die. This is essentially how they test the products only using laboratory containers and so on.

Comment on Will Red Mite infest your House? by kokorako

kokorako — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 13:25:36 +0000

I want to have a go mixing a spray of natural oils to keep the red mites still left in my 2-hen coop unhappy. I plan to spray into the crannies, under the perch etc. Any ideas on the mix level of peppermint, lavendar, eucalyptus, citronella and tea tree?

Comment on Late Summer and thinking about the Autumn already…. by pebojuno

pebojuno — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 19:58:07 +0000

Interesting blog and lovely faverolles- thanks Foxy

Comment on Will Red Mite infest your House? by Laura Loo

Laura Loo — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 09:29:32 +0000

Hi, Thanks for info. I heard a vet on TV saying Frontline does not work for mites and that this summer (in Ireland) has been dreadful for the mites on dogs, which like us, is taking a long time to treat. I think vets are using a combination of Advantage and steroids on dogs (which they used on ours), to get rid of these horrors. The hens seem to be ok now and the rest of us including the dogs, house and us slowly getting better thankfully, also with the help of the weather getting colder. We are also doing a lot of steaming everywhere which I think is helping a lot and lots of Diatom DE. We freeze our bedding and clothes daily. wash ourselves twice daily, apply tea tree and epson salts to bath and try and keep skin as dry as poss, as they love oily skin. I have learned that mites and other parasites love people with a lot of yeast in their system (candida), as yeast is formed by sugar from foods we eat, which like us, they love. Which explains why some people do not get affected by them living in the same house as others being affected. The anti parasite diet is very similar to the anti candida diet. Also having a dehumidifier helps alot, as they hate dry air. We did try mini fogforte fumers all over the house, but found the house very prickly the next day, so not sure they are that effective. Fingers crossed we are completely successful soon. Will keep posted

Comment on My Top 4 ‘Safe’ Red Mite Products. by Tim Daniels

Tim Daniels — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 09:48:39 +0000

I have never tried it. If you take a jar, put some tissue inside and some vinegar (just enough to wet the tissue) then, drop half a dozen mites into the jar (I find a crack and tap it to get some to mites to fall out). Then after 24 hours and 48 hours, see how many are dead. This should give you an idea of how effective it is. Make sure you aren’t drowning them, they need to be able to stand on the tissue.

Comment on How to get rid of a Serious Red Mite Infestation. by Tim Daniels

Tim Daniels — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 09:44:30 +0000

Hi Bigmama,

They vary in size and colour from light grey to dark red after a feed but they shouldn’t have a hard shell or white dot. The female only lays eggs after a blood feed but when hungry, some can change host to pets and even us.

Have a look at our other post about Red Mite in the House – It is not my area of expertise I have to say – but I would say if they are crawling around inside you need to try to start reducing their numbers or they may start feeding from your pets / you and can then multiply at an alarming rate.

Comment on How to get rid of a Serious Red Mite Infestation. by Tim Daniels

Tim Daniels — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 09:35:28 +0000

Hi Claire,

Red Mites live in the house and will hop onto the birds for a meal during darkness. During the day there are usually very few birds with actual Mites on them. Lice will live on the birds continuously.

You can dust the birds with various products – I use Red Mite Powder, I also feed my birds Garlic crushed in their water (a couple of cloves) which puts the mites off biting I believe but really the problem is getting the house mite free. You need to investigate the cracks in your hen house and get cleaning – it will take several serious cleans to remove them and even then you should keep preventative measures in place (like the diatom rubbed into perchs and dusted around cracks etc) to keep the last few under control.

I usually shower and put my clothes on a hot wash to kill the mites.
I hope this helps.

Comment on How to get rid of a Serious Red Mite Infestation. by Claire

Claire — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 22:44:03 +0000

I have mites on my birds. They are annoying me and everytime I clean their coop they are on me, I have a bath or shower and they are gone, so is there not a formular which i can bath my birds in??? its clear to me these little bliters do not like water: however after washing my jeans in a washing machine with all the suds they are still on there I would be grateful if you could advise as I literally have to strip off and put clothes in a black bag at the back door before going in the house (just in case)….I just hope none of the neighbours are watching!

Comment on My Top 4 ‘Safe’ Red Mite Products. by terryboyblue

terryboyblue — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 20:04:49 +0000

is red vinegar any good for getting rid of red mite, thank’s

Comment on How to get rid of a Serious Red Mite Infestation. by Bigmama

Bigmama — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 19:50:45 +0000

I have read this thread with interest as I think I have transferred them to the house too. I didnt think they were Red Mite as they looked black with a hard shell and a white type of dot on the top. After finding them I tried spraying the coop, only to cover myself with them and in they came!! Many showers later and some on me, my daughter, dog and laptop screen I have dismantled the coop as I have an old rabbit hutch where the chucks have gone. When I took it apart they were everywhere like grains of moving sand. Now they are crawling all over my bin, patio, mop bucket adn I arent coping well. I have brushed them down with scalding water and bleach with no effect. They make my skin crawl, I have left rhe coop pieces on the garden which is unused at the moment anyway due to it being completely overrun but want to know whether they still lay eggs with no host to feed on and how long they will br crawling round my patio for??