Kitchen Garden Forum

Beware i have just had to disinfect the chicken already for spider mite. I noticed the tell tale signs of the red squashed mites on the birds roosts and with further investigation found a small colony which was promptly destroyed. Last weeks inspection of the birds found them to be clean!! anybody else found them yet?

Sorry to nit (or mite) pick. What you have darren is not spider mite but poultry red mite http://www.thepoultrysite.com/diseasein ... -fowl-mite Apart from that, your warning is a timely one. I have not seen any on my poultry for the past three years - so fingers crossed.

Alan

You're lucky Alan, they are a constant threat here, I keep them under control and that's all, always there. Every week I paint the ends of perchs with some real creosote, not the artificial stuff & that stops them multiplying & migrating into other parts of the coop. Diesel is effective as is a blow torch, & i've just sent off for Milbenex which was recommended to me, but not tried it yet. I realise some of this stuff is a bit nasty but if that's what it takes.........

I've already started regular spraying with Poultryshield - just in case. I had a sudden major outbreak 2 years ago - but the Poultryshield - together with Duramitex - sprayed alternate weeks in the henhouse - seems to have kept them at bay.

I hate those redmites - they killed a little frizzle bantam overnight (2 years ago) and since then I've been making sure they don't come back.