4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[Griffin]

Last Friday I bought a Silkie hen and her 4 Brahma chicks that were a day old. Being a first time mum and having moved house Tiger Lily was understandably stressed when she arrived. I've kept my distance really and allowed her time to settle in and get used to her new life here. I'd handled her briefly but not given her a thorough going over until today. I've just found lice on her. As a temporary measure I've put a washing up bowl with compost and lots of Diatom in her run so hopefully once she realises it's not an alien come down to eat her she'll dust bathe in it.

 

What can I treat her with and what should I use on the chicks as I presume they'll have mites now too? What should I clean her coop with?

[ellisyellis]

hi,

 

i would dust the whole area the chickens have with the diatom earth. its the best stuff for lice and red mites. if you are worried about the hen i would lift her off the chicks just before its totally dark in the evening and turn her upside down and give her a good dusting. carefully put her back in. the chicks are probably too young to dust but do it once they look old enough to do. if the mum has lice the chicks will also have them. x

[The Dogmother]

Unfortunately, a nice warm broody is a magnet for lice and mites. You can dust them (as ellisyellis says; Diatom and Red Mite Powder are really the only safe products for a broody and youngsters.

[Griffin]

Thank you, will do that later. She'll hate me even more then

[Egluntyne]

Perhaps you could do it after she has gone to roost. She might make less fuss.

[Griffin]

That's the plan. I have to be in the garden at bedtime anyway to 'rescue' the growers who think it's perfectly acceptable to roost on the roof of the coop

[Budgies]

That's the plan. I have to be in the garden at bedtime anyway to 'rescue' the growers who think it's perfectly acceptable to roost on the roof of the coop

It's a lovely image!!