Red mites are par and parcel of most backyard flocks at one time or another

So, some facts for you

• They can be carried in on wild birds or new flock members,

• They have a rampant breeding regime and go from egg to vampire in 7 days,

• A female might lay 300 eggs before she dies,

• Whilst adult mites will die in subzero temperatures, young mites and eggs will become dormant and remain inactive until it warms up a bit! hiding in cracks and crevices!,

• Red mites can survive for months without food,

• up to 5% of a hen’s blood can be consumed in one night from heavy infestations,

• in commercial farms infestation levels of 50,000 mites PER bird are deemed light and acceptable, 500,000 medium and 5,000,000 heavy

• red mites can be the mechanism for transmission of bacterial pathogens and mycoplasma to flocks!!

So you see these little blighters pose a real threat to your girl’s health and well being!! Not to mention sanity if they have creepies crawling over them all night.

Time to check and get ahead of the game!! My attack plan.....

1) Vigilance!!

2) Diatomaceous earth in the dust bath, not in the bedding due to breathing dust throughout the night,

3) Application of mite powder under the perch padding as this won’t become a breathing risk,

4) Blow torch at the ready!! I go over all the houses and feather board in the sleeping area plus the post and supports!!!!

The run is all wood with many places for the mites to sleep during the day!! Obviously with care!!!  and not when the gurls are about!!

5) Keep the girls nutrition up at all times to support them!

6) Replace bedding straw once a week and burn as mites can live in the straw tubes!!

7) Pick up dropped feathers, can be a food source for mites if there is blood in the quill! Have found one covered in them before!!

8 ) Have Dergall solution in the cupboard for use should a nightly check reveal activity!!

9) Vigilance!!! Go out at night with a torch and check for activity on the surfaces!! Place a piece of white paper in the coup with your phone torch on underneath and leave for 5 mins see if any come!!

10) Start now and be routine about it!!

There are a number of chemical products out there including sprays and solutions. All will pose some toxicity risk to your flock so if you are going to use something like this ensure you follow the instructions exactly!

There is a new product available through your vet called Ezxolt, which is proving to be revolutionary in the battle against red mite. It is an oral product administered via drinking water, so can be given without stress of handling.

Hope that helps  x