We had 3 hens last May given to us by friend after buying poultry house previous December. One hen died from prolapse, one got bitten in head by dog but we nursed her back to life, and the other consistently laid soft shelled eggs. We had the most horrendous recurring red mite attacks, lice and no eggs from September through to this week. I spent a fortune on Smite, diatomaceous earth, poultry disinfectant, cider vinegar, VermX, poultry spice, grit, layers pellets etc. No eggs and nothing but trouble. Last week we gave up and sold hen house and my friend rehoused the 2 with her 20 on Monday. I have been round twice and my 2 are hiding in the big shed all day and if they come out are attacked by the other birds. They have undoubtedly lost weight and come running out when I call them. Ours were pets I suppose and they have joined a group that are tough 'street wise' birds who have to fight for food whereas ours were spoilt. I am a country girl and used to plucking pheasants, breeding pheasants for a shoot, skinning rabbits etc and aware that they are just animals. I was really upset however, and have told her we will have them back if things don't change by Monday. I cannot cope with another summer of red mites - I spent most weekends power washing hen house down and treating with dettol, diatom earth / Sprite but the mites continued and the hens were very unhappy. My husband will build us a new hen house but how can we stop the dreaded mites. Finances are a bit tight so really it needs to be home made and I have been told that plastic or metal will deter the mites. We live in the country and our garden is surrounded by hedges / wild birds and we cannot site the hen house away from a hedge - I believe this makes matters worse for mites. Help please...............
Starting again
- Thread starter Morricl
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elmwood
New member
Hi,
What a terrible time you and your hens have had.
I totally understand your anguish at seeing your poor girls suffering at the hands of the bigger and established flock. In time, it would all even out, but I don't think I could wait to see.
I have no idea why you should have had so many problems with the red mite, given all your precautions. As for hedges, trees etc, I have read that if you can site your house away from these it is best as the mites crawl down from the roosting wild birds into the coop. (Our house is under a very large oak tree, which worries me too). As regards the coop material, I would definately agree that either plastic or metal would help. Oh and no felt whatsoever, Onduline is good, but I have also read that it creates a lovely dark place for mites to hide. At least you can power-wash under the ridges. I know wood is extremely practical, warm, will last for years with care etc, but there are very affordable and modern approaches to hen keeping. I saw a great recylced duck/hen house in muted colours at the Bakewell show recently. I was so taken with its design and value for money. It was by a company called "Moorland poultry"
So to deter them from the word go, I would creosote the coop if you go with wood. If other material cover in Diatom, clean weekly, power-wash/steam 4 weekly. It might be worth using a permethrin based spray, to kill the mites. Whether they are there or not, I used it last summer, as a precaution and it gave some protection over the summer, approx 3 months. You could also use these fumers that are available widely. I intend doing it again over the summer. Give the girls AVC with garlic, to deter the mites from biting and sucking them, as mites don't like garlic. In fact everything that you appear to be doing. If you only have two girls, maybe one of these large plastic dog crates might be worth considering? We actually use plastic pet carriers for nesting boxes, when the girls all squabble about who is laying where.
As for the non laying of eggs-our girls have had until Valentines day off- which I believe is quite normal. I hope this helps in some way, and that you manage to reach a compromise for the sake of your sanity and your girls well-being.
What a terrible time you and your hens have had.
I totally understand your anguish at seeing your poor girls suffering at the hands of the bigger and established flock. In time, it would all even out, but I don't think I could wait to see.I have no idea why you should have had so many problems with the red mite, given all your precautions. As for hedges, trees etc, I have read that if you can site your house away from these it is best as the mites crawl down from the roosting wild birds into the coop. (Our house is under a very large oak tree, which worries me too). As regards the coop material, I would definately agree that either plastic or metal would help. Oh and no felt whatsoever, Onduline is good, but I have also read that it creates a lovely dark place for mites to hide. At least you can power-wash under the ridges. I know wood is extremely practical, warm, will last for years with care etc, but there are very affordable and modern approaches to hen keeping. I saw a great recylced duck/hen house in muted colours at the Bakewell show recently. I was so taken with its design and value for money. It was by a company called "Moorland poultry"
So to deter them from the word go, I would creosote the coop if you go with wood. If other material cover in Diatom, clean weekly, power-wash/steam 4 weekly. It might be worth using a permethrin based spray, to kill the mites. Whether they are there or not, I used it last summer, as a precaution and it gave some protection over the summer, approx 3 months. You could also use these fumers that are available widely. I intend doing it again over the summer. Give the girls AVC with garlic, to deter the mites from biting and sucking them, as mites don't like garlic. In fact everything that you appear to be doing. If you only have two girls, maybe one of these large plastic dog crates might be worth considering? We actually use plastic pet carriers for nesting boxes, when the girls all squabble about who is laying where.
As for the non laying of eggs-our girls have had until Valentines day off- which I believe is quite normal. I hope this helps in some way, and that you manage to reach a compromise for the sake of your sanity and your girls well-being.
A
Anonymous
Guest
Sorry you have had such a hard time of it; keeping chooks should be enjoyable and for you it certainly hasn't been that. To me you are doing all you can to deter them so cannot understand why the mites persist. Give it another go; it is all a question of learning as you go along. We have experienced problems but the joy of keeping them makes you forget all that. 
victorias poultry
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Is your friend able to seperate your girls from the other flock for a week or two, give the new girls time to adjust but also time for the "old girls" to get used to the new hens.
Mites are an awful problem for poultry and keepers, all you can do is try and keep on top of it, spraying hen house and birds on a regular basis
Hope your girls settle in
Mites are an awful problem for poultry and keepers, all you can do is try and keep on top of it, spraying hen house and birds on a regular basis
Hope your girls settle in
A
Anonymous
Guest
Just jumping in as a newbie here...
Sorry you've had such a bad time of it...
We had a heck of a time with red mite during our 1st summer with hens & it took nearly all summer to get on top of them. When we got our new hen house it was easy to go down the prevention route (weekly scrub out with Poultry Shield, sprinkling of diatom over the floor & nest boxes before adding bedding, then another sprinkling over it all along with a good dusting of the perches & perch brackets & a paste of diatom (just mixed with water) painted into corners, nooks & crannies helped block off red mite hiding places. We haven't eradicated the little blighters entirely (& tbh I think that's just about impossible) but what we do keeps them at such low levels they don't cause any problems for our chickens.
I also sprinkle diatom in the dust bathing areas which also helps with other parasites (apart from worms I've only treated ours for scaley leg mite & that was only because some of our new hens had it).
Apparently you can also seal the corners, etc of your hen house with mastic/silicone bath sealant or give the inside of it a good coat of paint as both of these will help fill & block any red mite hiding places (though I've not tried either of these so can't comment on how effective they are).
Sorry you've had such a bad time of it...
We had a heck of a time with red mite during our 1st summer with hens & it took nearly all summer to get on top of them. When we got our new hen house it was easy to go down the prevention route (weekly scrub out with Poultry Shield, sprinkling of diatom over the floor & nest boxes before adding bedding, then another sprinkling over it all along with a good dusting of the perches & perch brackets & a paste of diatom (just mixed with water) painted into corners, nooks & crannies helped block off red mite hiding places. We haven't eradicated the little blighters entirely (& tbh I think that's just about impossible) but what we do keeps them at such low levels they don't cause any problems for our chickens.
I also sprinkle diatom in the dust bathing areas which also helps with other parasites (apart from worms I've only treated ours for scaley leg mite & that was only because some of our new hens had it).
Apparently you can also seal the corners, etc of your hen house with mastic/silicone bath sealant or give the inside of it a good coat of paint as both of these will help fill & block any red mite hiding places (though I've not tried either of these so can't comment on how effective they are).
Lucylou
New member
Oh what a shame you had such a bad experince with the dreaded mite. If you start from scratch with a new coop maybe things will be better this time. Good luck.
A
Anonymous
Guest
sounds like once bitten twice as shy. its not fun when you are battling mites, lice and winter weather. now you have the experience under your wing pardon the punt! you would hopefully have a better summer. i find if i cover everything with diatom earth once week the little bleeders cant build up.
i would like to hear you have another go as i get so much plesure out of my birds but would understand if you dont. could you find a smaller flock for your ladies to join or anybody who just wants the two??
i would like to hear you have another go as i get so much plesure out of my birds but would understand if you dont. could you find a smaller flock for your ladies to join or anybody who just wants the two??
