Solitary chicken - need advice

[Angels4]

Eglu set up...Check

Straw for bedding...Check

Mite powder, grit, oyster shell...Check, Check, Check

 

I was thinking I would line the inside of the Eglu with straw in advance of the girls arrival. Should I sprinkle some of the mite powder in first (as a preventative mesure)? The girls should (fingers crossed) be here within the week and I just want the transition to go well for them. Also is it recomended to sprinkle mite powder in thier dust bath?

Edited June 14, 2008 by Guest

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I was thinking I would line the inside of the Eglu with straw in advance of the girls arrival.

I put one sheet of newspaper then some shredded paper in the poopdeck and shredded paper in the nestbox. You could certainly put straw instead of paper.

 

Should I sprinkle some of the mite powder in first (as a preventative mesure)?

I dust Diatom powder on the ends of the roosting bars (with a big paintbrush!) and sprinkle red mite powder in the nestbox.

 

Also is it reccomended to sprinkle mite powder in thier dust bath?

Yes, I think people do. Mine don't have a "manmade" dustbath, they just make their own in the run.

Hope that helps! Not long to go now .

[Angels4]

Thanks for the information ANH. What is diatom powder and what is it used for, is it also for mites? Also when your girls make a dust bath, do they use the same one all the time? I chose straw because I thought it would be more organic, but if it's ok to use paper If I use paper can I add that to the compost bin as well?

[Laura & CTB]

DE is an all purpose parasite killer. You can use it on the roosting bars and in the dustbath to kill redmite. It is also used in feed which is supposed to kill internal parasites - I feed it to my works cat as an internal wormer ( only cos he wont eat anything with tablets in)

[muzzie]

Eglu set up...Check

Straw for bedding...Check

Mite powder, grit, oyster shell...Check, Check, Check

 

I was thinking I would line the inside of the Eglu with straw in advance of the girls arrival. Should I sprinkle some of the mite powder in first (as a preventative mesure)? The girls should (fingers crossed) be here within the week and I just want the transition to go well for them. Also is it recomended to sprinkle mite powder in thier dust bath?

 

Hi Angels4 here is a link to a site for the DE this is where I order mine from I use it in the layers pellets with flax seeds and without in the dust bath and nest box and on the roosting bar ends. http://www.theholistichorse.com/index.php?page=catalog&cat=po