Dutchy's® are predatory mites that fight blood mites (red poultry mites) naturally – completely without chemicals. Successful control depends on the right application. This guide takes you step by step through the use in the pigeon loft, aviary, chicken coop and terrarium.
Background information on the red mite – identification, life cycle and symptoms – can be found in our guide Recognising and fighting bird mites in pigeons.
The most important points first
- During the first few weeks the predatory mites use a small heap of carrier material as a meeting point – this is where mating takes place and new eggs are laid. These heaps must remain in place for several weeks and must not dry out.
- Do not use any chemical products for at least 6 weeks before application – otherwise the predatory mites will die. Do not use chemical products or biological sprays during the application either. Cleaning agents are permitted.
- Use up the material completely – if stored for longer, the predatory mites will eat each other inside the bottle.
Application step by step
- Hold the bottle horizontally and slowly rotate it a few times around its own axis so that the predatory mites are evenly distributed in the material.
- Use the dosage table below to work out how many heaps should be placed in the cage or nest.
- Put some material into the cap – one full cap is enough for one application point. Carefully form a small heap from it at the chosen spot.
- Leave the heap undisturbed for at least 2 weeks. Every day predatory mites migrate from it into the nest and cage.
- Use all of the material – do not store it.
- Leave the empty bottle in the cage or nest for at least another day so that any remaining predatory mites can crawl out.
Application on moisture mats
The material must be kept moist – on dried-out mats larvae and eggs hardly survive and control becomes less effective. Moisten the mats and wring them out, then choose a quiet spot so that the animals do not destroy the heap. If necessary, cover it with a small bowl and place a small piece of wood under the rim so that the predatory mites can crawl out freely.
Application in containers
Containers are ideal for aviaries, breeding cages and terrariums: put some slightly moist potting soil into the application container, place the material with the Dutchy's on top, close the container and hang it on a perch, wire mesh or nest box – always with the hole facing sideways so the predatory mites can get out quickly. In terrariums, place the container on the floor or fix it to the wall. Thanks to the moist soil the material stays in good condition for about two weeks; if the container hangs for longer, the predatory mites may even reproduce inside it.
Application in nests
If the pest mites are in the nests, push the nesting material slightly aside, place one cap of carrier material in between and cover it again. As the nest itself is moist, no additional moistening is required here.
Dosage
C = cap. The figures are taken from the original Refona user instructions.
| Housing | Dosage | Repetition | Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breeding cage 40 × 40 cm (aviary birds) | 1–3 C per 4 cages | every 5–6 weeks | 1 container or moistened mats per 4 cages |
| Breeding cage 80 × 80 cm | 1–3 C per cage | every 5–6 weeks | 1 container or moistened mats per cage |
| In case of tropical fowl mite | 1–2 C per nest | every 3 weeks | under or between the nesting material |
| Nest boxes | 1–2 C per nest box | every 3 weeks | under or between the nesting material |
| Chickens: roosting area | 1–3 C per m² | after 5 weeks if numbers increase | on moistened mats in an undisturbed spot |
| Chickens: nests | 1–3 C per m² | after 5 weeks if numbers increase | under or between the nesting material |
| Terrarium 100 × 60 cm | 1–5 C | after 5 weeks if numbers increase | container or moistened mats |
| Terrarium 200 × 60 cm | 2–10 C | after 5 weeks if numbers increase | container or moistened mats |
| Terrarium over 2 m² | 1–5 C per m² | after 5 weeks if numbers increase | container or moistened mats |
What can happen after application?
A few days after application it may look as if there are more blood mites – they suddenly appear in places where you would not normally see them. That is a good sign: the predatory mites have already driven the pests out of their hiding places. After a few weeks the population is wiped out.
If there is no improvement after three weeks, the infestation was greater than assumed – in that case order more Dutchy's and apply them again. With a sufficient quantity and a little patience, the predatory mites will reliably solve the problem.
Feather lice are controlled as well
Users have long reported positive experiences against feather lice in poultry, pigeons and aviary birds. The predatory mites presumably prey on the larval and nymph stages of the feather louse, which also hide in cracks and crevices. If an infestation is detected, apply at a not too high dosage according to the table.
Shelf life and storage
In the bottle the predatory mites keep for a few days – the cap has a fine membrane that lets oxygen in but no predatory mites out. Store cool, ideally at 10 °C (the fridge is usually too cold!). The best-before date is printed on the bottle. The predatory mites work best when they are applied immediately after delivery.
