Old timer chicken lore

[maizey]

My parent used to own a family grocery store in rural area. My dads grandfather established it and handed it down through the years so my father literally grew up in that store. He told me recently that bananas used to come in on a stalk and were cut off it to sell and the old folks used to fight over the banana stalk. It seems they would hang it in the coop to attract mites,and when it was full, you burned it. No more mites in the chicken coop. Thoughts on this? I like the stories even if they aren't valid

 

[pimachickens]

Although I can't speak from any actual knowledge of this, I would tend to believe it. Most old stories are based on methods that worked, or they would have abandoned it and tried something new. Also, although probably a different breed, mites in a compost bin are very attracted to banana peels.

 

[NickyPick]

Awesome - we've got banana trees growing in the compost pile. Thought they were dead and cut them up some 20 years ago. The next spring they started coming up. Never underestimate the power of horse manure!! I'm going to have to try this.

 

[maizey]

Well you never know, certainly no harm in trying this one...however, I'm pretty sure I dont know where to get a banana stalk

 

[WoodlandWoman]

There are different types of mites. Some feed on animals or birds and some feed on decaying plant matter. I would think the banana stalk would attract that kind, not the kind that feed on chickens.