I scrub down my coop and wait for it to dry. Then I "poof" the walls and surfaces with dust. Permethrin is good but my personal preference is DE mixed with ground clove. I don't worry about the ceiling/rafters because I figure the mites will come in contact with the dust on the walls on their way down.
After cleaning and dusting I mix a little garlic juice into Vaseline and use it like caulk. I work it into the cracks on the sides and surface of the roosts, especially around the ends where they're attached to the walls and to other boards. Then I coat the entire underside of the boards. Red mites are nocturnal and like to feed at night. The garlic-Vaseline works both as a repellent and a barrier.
Now, if I'm planning on using the garlic-Vaseline to caulk the cracks in the walls, I dust the walls after not before.
Btw, I love your coop!!
After cleaning and dusting I mix a little garlic juice into Vaseline and use it like caulk. I work it into the cracks on the sides and surface of the roosts, especially around the ends where they're attached to the walls and to other boards. Then I coat the entire underside of the boards. Red mites are nocturnal and like to feed at night. The garlic-Vaseline works both as a repellent and a barrier.
Now, if I'm planning on using the garlic-Vaseline to caulk the cracks in the walls, I dust the walls after not before.
Btw, I love your coop!!
