Using Ant Powder and Fly Spray to Control Red Mite

*** Using Ant Powder & Fly Spray to Control Red Mite ***

We get asked a LOT of questions about red mite and how best to deal with them and let's face it, there are various different products available that can be used and some effective and some not so and it can be difficult to source the best thing to use..., So I have been doing a bit more research into mites and red mite in particular and found a good product to use called (Cypermethrin) - as found in (Harka-Mitex) which is used to control mites in pigeons and recommended by many pigeon fanciers. It's based on the natural pesticide Pyrethrum but has a stronger %. (Dura-Mitex) is the poultry version available in a spray can and pesticide FREE and costs around £10 and Harka-Mitex is around £10 per 50ml bottle and is a concentrate you need to mix to a spray and is (not licensed for use in poultry). So Cypermethrin or Pyrethrum guys - look out for these and products that contain it!!! Click on this hyperlink for further information about -->> Cypermethrin and click on this hyperlink -->> Pyrethrum and we hope this info helps a little. NOW let's have a look below how Fly Spray and Ant Powder can help with controlling mites and red mite in particular. 

Using Household Fly Sprays and Ant Powders
There are cheaper and in my opinion more effective ways of deal with red mite and controlling them and/or treating the coop once you have them and that's by using just normal household fly spray and ant powder.

There are a lot of expensive and not very effective "poultry red mite" treatments on the market, but I have been saying time and time again that the active ingredients needed to deal with red mite are Permethrin and Tetramethrin which can be found in household fly spray's and ant powders as shown in the above images but these are at a low % but use enough of it regularly and it does work against red mite and more importantly it's cheap at around £1 a can or bottle. 

Fly Spray and Ant Powder - De-miting (prevention & treatment) ...
The active ingredients you that you need to look for is as shown in the above images are Permethrin or Tetramethrin or both as these are the ingredients what 'kill' the mites. They contain only a low % but enough used regularly works great as a preventative. 

Directions (for prevention & treatment) ...

1. Wear a mask or scarf
2. Ensure there is good ventilation
3. Make sure no other pets are around (like cats)
4. Make sure coop is free from all bedding
5. Make sure the hens are out of the coop and away from the coop during in treatment

Using the Fly Spray (shake well before use), you need to spray the area you want to treat until you get a foam build up as shown in my pictures and pay particular attention to cracks, nooks and crevices making sure the area is covered really well, then take the Ant Powder and "puff" over the area you've just sprayed the Fly Spray so it sticks, please make sure you wear a mask and keep the hens out for about 1hr until fumes disperse. My recommendation is to use the Fly Spray and line the bottom and sides of the coop, paying particular attention to cracks and crevices and likely places mites may hide (warm/damp area's) and then with the Ant Powder "puff" it on to the Fly Spray to make it stick. 

Vaseline (for prevention only and treatment) ...
Once you have completed your task of applying the Fly Spray and Ant Powder, be extra safe and be sure to vaseline the ends of any perches applying a good liberal amount. 

** Repeating Treatment/s and Keep Mite Free **

Repeating treatment -  (for prevention and treatment) ...
Repeating treatment is key to ensuring that you break the life cycle of the mites and thus break the infestation. We recommend you do this every 5-7 days on clean out until you become mite FREE and then you should on need to repeat this once every 3 months or so as a prevention to stay on top of things and again mite FREE. This is important because if you don't and only treat once you'll be back to square one and the mites will still be there. Please DO NOT jet wash at all as this is the worst thing you can do as it doesn't kill the mites and just spreads them everywhere. Remember, prevention is better and cheaper than the cure.

Other recommendations - (for prevention and treatment)

Johnsons Scaly Lotion, this comes in a drop on bottle and is 15ml and contains pyrethrum which is natural and derived from plant extracts and been used many years on budgies and other aviary birds to control mite. Specifically it's for treatment for scaly mite but can also be used to control other mites and lice and you apply it the same as you would with Ivermectin. 4 drops large fowl, 3 drops medium fowl and 2 drops small fowl and banties and again paying particular attention to based on neck and under each wing, I also do base on tail feathers too but away from the preen gland, better still there is NO WITHDRAWL either as it's a natural product and it's cheap around £3-£5 from pets at home or other pet shops/ebay!!! I use this product alongside the Fly Spray and Ant Powder.

Finally...
We hope this information helps you and please be safe and careful when using these products, this article is recommendation only and not endorsed. These methods are purely what has worked for me and work for me on a continuing basis and are just my opinion only. I am not affiliated with and do not recommend or endorse these products in anyway but they do work!!! This method and use of these products are used entirely at your own risks, Thank you!

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