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

[Electricbarbarella]

I check the girls every few days, every couple of weeks they have lice, I treat them they go away for a couple of weeks and then they are back again. Why? I keep their run and coop spotless.

Is there something better I should be doing, I use johnsons insect pwoder, every month or so, diatomous earth every week and in their nest.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Have you seen this?

[Electricbarbarella]

Thanks I dont know why i didnt spot that. .

[Budgies]

Wild birds carry them so it's easy for your girls to be re-infected regularly.

 

However, if you treat the hens, you have to bear in mind that if they have eggs on them, when these hatch out, the product you've used might no longer be effective, and so the life cycle goes on again.

 

Treating them for lice should be a regular thing - you should dust them weekly if possible, whether they have lice or not, to keep infestations down.

[JM]

I check mine over regularly, but as none of mine really like being picked up, I have to do it quite quickly while they sit on my lap complaining. I've never seen anything yet luckily.

 

I didn't realise that dusting should be done every week - is there an easy technique (because I sense that I will end up with some very grumpy chickens!!).

 

Also when I check them, I look at their faces, around their rear end, and try to look under the wings, and if I can I try to move the feathers about to see there as well, but I can't always manage it!! What is the best technique?

 

Thanks

 

Jill

[Egluntyne]

I think it comes with practise JM. I certainly find it a lot easier than I used to.

 

I get mine into a half nelson and then stand them on a handy little wall that I happen to have and examine them and dust them whilst they are standing there.

 

If anyone needs a bath, I put the bowl on the wall too.

 

I use a landing net to catch any reluctant girls.

[The Dogmother]

That sounds like my routine Egluntine; mine know better than to argue now

 

The larger run door for the cube has changed it slightly though - I herd them into the run, pop in and bung them in the cube (while Rosie closes the cube door after each one) then it's an easy matter to take them out of the back of the cube for treatment and fettling.

[PurpleTree]

 

I didn't realise that dusting should be done every week - is there an easy technique (because I sense that I will end up with some very grumpy chickens!!).

 

 

I was going to post a similar question about the best way of getting the powder on them. My 3 aren't keen on being held and they run as soon as they see the powder. Do you just puff the powder all over? Into specific places? Or is it easier to get a handful and rub it into them?

[The Dogmother]

You need to squirt it into the affected areas, so under the feathers on the tummy, around the vent and under the wings. I get them upside-down on my lap and ruffle through all their feathers.

 

Be careful not to breath in the powder as you do this.

[JM]

Oh heck - I'm just imagining trying to get mine upside down I pick mine up OK, and even though I get one hand under them between their legs and the other on their wings, they wriggle, squirm and flap at the slightest opportunity!!

 

Are they OK with being upside down?

[PurpleTree]

JM your girls sound just like mine when I pick them up

[The Dogmother]

You need to show them who's boss!

 

Difficult to describe heer, but I demonstrate it all the time....

 

Hold your hen on the palm of your hand, facing towards you, with your fingers firmly interlaced with the tops of her legs.

 

Put the other hand - fingers towards her tail - on her back to hold her wings down

 

Rotate the chicken onto her back and pull her towards you, tucking the head under your arm.

 

Ta daaaa!