Red mite questions
Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2016 5:02 pm
So.... we have red mite in the chicken coop for the first time ever, and there are loads! I have washed down the coop and soaked thoroughly in Poultry Shield. I plan to do another soak in 4-5 days. In the meantime the chickens in are their old coop (which may also have the mites, as they have been connected, but I thought it better to thoroughly de-mite one then put them in there and burn the old one which we are planning on dismantling anyway.)
But I have a few questions..
1 - Is Poultry Shield likely to be enough for a pretty large infestation? I have some Johnsons Mite Spray which I could also put on before rehousing them, along with Johnsons Mite Powder which I believe is just diacom. I have read good reviews of Total Mite Kill and could buy some of that. I wanted to try the less toxic options first but I do want rid of the blighters. I will give them a dust bath with the powder in and could try to shake some on the birds although they're pretty flighty birds and don't like being handled. I'm also reluctant to get the mites all over me which brings me on to the next question...
2 - How easy is it to bring significant numbers of the critters into the house? I have seen them crawling on my shoes and up my arms when outside with them, and I've washed clothes and showered on coming in, but I also have a cat and I have seen one on her foot. If I walk into the garden, which isn't large, I see some straight away on my shoes which suggests they're spread around the grass. Will they disappear in search of a bird or will they come in the house either by themselves or on us/the cat? I have bought some Frontline flea treatment for the cat, in the hope that any which land on and bite her will be killed. I have read horror stories on the internet (I know.. I shouldn't) about peoples houses being infested. Has anyone experienced this?
3 - Relating to the above - how tiny are the tiniest mites? I can see very small ones (mostly pale coloured) on my shoes or arms, but I have read of people feeling crawling sensations without being able to see the mites... could this be red mite? Could they be on me without me seeing them? Obviously as soon I read this I feel itchy and don't know what is imagination and what could be real mites!!!
4 - If they are infesting the grass in the garden, how long will the hang around? Can I pour Poultry Shield around the garden?
5 - I know most literature suggests that the mites can only breed if they're biting birds, but again there are stories from people who think the mites are breeding in their houses (can you tell I'm getting a bit paranoid?) Does anyone believe this is possible?????
But I have a few questions..
1 - Is Poultry Shield likely to be enough for a pretty large infestation? I have some Johnsons Mite Spray which I could also put on before rehousing them, along with Johnsons Mite Powder which I believe is just diacom. I have read good reviews of Total Mite Kill and could buy some of that. I wanted to try the less toxic options first but I do want rid of the blighters. I will give them a dust bath with the powder in and could try to shake some on the birds although they're pretty flighty birds and don't like being handled. I'm also reluctant to get the mites all over me which brings me on to the next question...
2 - How easy is it to bring significant numbers of the critters into the house? I have seen them crawling on my shoes and up my arms when outside with them, and I've washed clothes and showered on coming in, but I also have a cat and I have seen one on her foot. If I walk into the garden, which isn't large, I see some straight away on my shoes which suggests they're spread around the grass. Will they disappear in search of a bird or will they come in the house either by themselves or on us/the cat? I have bought some Frontline flea treatment for the cat, in the hope that any which land on and bite her will be killed. I have read horror stories on the internet (I know.. I shouldn't) about peoples houses being infested. Has anyone experienced this?
3 - Relating to the above - how tiny are the tiniest mites? I can see very small ones (mostly pale coloured) on my shoes or arms, but I have read of people feeling crawling sensations without being able to see the mites... could this be red mite? Could they be on me without me seeing them? Obviously as soon I read this I feel itchy and don't know what is imagination and what could be real mites!!!
4 - If they are infesting the grass in the garden, how long will the hang around? Can I pour Poultry Shield around the garden?
5 - I know most literature suggests that the mites can only breed if they're biting birds, but again there are stories from people who think the mites are breeding in their houses (can you tell I'm getting a bit paranoid?) Does anyone believe this is possible?????