Definitive help for the spring - redmite

[spiggy]

Dunno if people will be interested, but I've found the following way very useful for testing for red mite:

Paper Traps:- Take some small squares of paper (preferably plain, white) 5cm x 5cm approx. Fold the paper longways as if to make a fan. Flatten it so you have a long strip with lots of folds. Make lots of these, and place them in the crevices of the chicken house.
Leave for a day and a night, or 2 days and 2 nights.
During the day, any mites present will hide inbetween the folds of paper.
On the next day, remove the paper traps, inspecting each one by first squeezing it, then unravelling it. Any mites will be squished in the folds and you'll be able to spot them easily on the paper.

[molliedogspabottom]

Hi
what a fantastically simple idea I will start folding first thing tomorrow. I will let you know how I get on. Any more ideas you can pass on?

Kind regards Heather

[CP]

We had a similar idea but used small pieces of wood laid onto a flat surface in the coop. Used to get red mite congregating underneath those too.

[molliedogspabottom]

Hi

I have to say I quite like idea of squishing the little devils between the folds he! he!

[Bhindi]

Sometime ago someone on the forum suggested using corregated cardboard, as its a perfect home for them, and then remove and burn...But you wouldnt get the rewarding pleasure of seeing the spats which you would with the white paper lol.

[spiggy]

Glad you like the paper thing I love squishing them too

Another thing I do is use tree branches for perches - the mites seem to prefer these to the cracks in the henhouse, and will move onto the branch perch.
When you see redmite/redmite evidence on the perch, either kill them with clove oil/veg oil mix, or burn the perch and make another one.