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slip and pitch

Dusting for mites

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Can anyone give me some advice please? I've had my hens for three weeks (and they seem happy and healthy). The lady I bought them from told me to shake a little mite powder under their wings and around their bum once a week. She demonstated how to do this by picking up a hen and then turning it over so it was laying on its back on her arm. One tiny flaw in this plan is that my hens will only be held for about 5 seconds before they scrabble to get down,so I have no idea how I'm going to get as far as turning them over! I keep the cube nice and clean and they spend a fair amount of time wandering around the garden where they have found a lovely dust bath area under a tree. Will that be adequate or should I persevere with picking them up and hoping to turn them over? x

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:? I have heard that chickens will lie quietly if you hold them upside down but no one told my girls :oops: So no, I don't do it. I put the powder into their dustbath (when I know which spot they are going to use) and sprinkle it liberally around the cube. I make a point of checking them over whenever I pick them up and so far there has been no evidence of passengers.
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I use the powder all around the cube and the roosting bars and I did wonder about putting some where they have a dust bath,but will it matter if they eat any of the grit that has the powder on it? They tend to pick bits up while they're laying there. I'll definately try that though. Thanks for helping. Glad to hear its not just me who has trouble with the juggling chicken act!

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