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

[poppycat]

Sorry Guys - quick newbie question.

 

Just ordering what I need for the chicks and I cant figure out if I need both diatom and red mite or just diatom.

 

I spoke to flytesofancy and they said if I use 2% diatom in food as ongoing and sprinkle all over house after cleaning then I would not need to buy red mite powder as well.

 

Is this correct? I am sure I read somewhere that somebody did this and got red mites anyway.

 

They do a cheap 5kg pack of the diatom although I might find this is too much - she said it will have a shelf life of virtually forever (and I dont want to keep paying postage charges). How long do you think 5kg would last for 3 chicks

 

What do you do?

 

Thanks

Lou

[Poultry in Motion]

I believe the standard powder just deters mites, but diatom kills them. We had a problem and cleared it with a liberal dose of diatom everywhere. Also, if you have an Eglu, I would recommend replacing the wooden bars with plastic ones (the mites live in the wood). We did and found them much easier to maintain and no mite problem. I still squirt a bit of diatom very occasionally (every two or three months) after a good clean of the henhouse for general peace of mind. Omlet's 100g bottle has lasted me for a while (with three hens) so I think 5kg sounds a bit overboard to me.

[poppycat]

Oh ok, thanks for that - I thought I might be going a bit mad

 

So you dont need to give the diatom with the food then. Sounds like a smaller pack will be fine.

 

Does anyone else have views on this?

[jomaxsmith]

I bought a massive bucket of Diatom from my local poultry centre (it's raining so I'm not going outside to see what size it is!) and I reckon in a year or so I've used less than 20% of it.

 

At this time of year I dust it round the ends of the roosting bars and in the nest box every time I change the poo tray, in winter I use it less. I also dust the hens with it every couple of months as a precaution and I do tend to put a scoop in when I mix up the week's worth of mash.

 

Jo

[Gem_Seb]

I do the same, put a bit in their weekly food then in their bedding and poo tray everytime i clean them out then once a month when i give it a good clean i put it everywhere!! no problems so far! i bought a 2kg tub as i do tend to go overboard but like you said if it has a shelf life of 'forever' then may as well save on the postage!!

[poppycat]

I might do like you Gem Seb and get the 2kg - because it does not actually cost that much more for the 2kg over the 1kg.

 

Jo, do you mind me asking where you go for poultry supplies (and are they good value )? I am in Beds too. Some places seem to really vary in price.

[jomaxsmith]

Jo, do you mind me asking where you go for poultry supplies (and are they good value )? I am in Beds too. Some places seem to really vary in price.

 

Of course I don't mind! I buy most things at Thornes (mash, diatom, grit, poultry spice, grain) and get the other bits (garlic, limestone flour, apple cider vinegar, bedding) at various horsey places like G&M Growers (near Biggleswade), Country stores (on the way to Potton), Frontier (towards St Neots). I don't really notice the comparative prices, except on bedding and I've stopped using hemp products because they got so expensive. I've been using chopped straw from Thornes at £8 ish but am about to start a bale of Bliss (chopped rape straw) which was under £7. Bokashi I buy from Wiggly Wrigglers when it's on offer but the last lot came from ebay.

 

I find it a pain to have to try lots of different places because none seem to have everything I need!

 

Jo

[poppycat]

Thanks Jo

 

I will have to try out the places you mention.

 

Lou

[Falkor]

Hi all!

 

I am in St Neots so I can hop in and out of Bedfordshire pretty easily....

 

I too use the suppliers like Jo, G&M, Frontier, Countrystore but there is also a littl family run business in Little Staughton.....Top View or Top Shop Stores I think it is called. It is on the main road and easy to spot...I get my Aubiose from there normally and everything else from the other places.

 

I also venture down to Thornes and buy a few bits but this is normally just an excuse to coo over all the pure breeds!

 

I am currently using Bliss and am not a fan.......I will be going back to Aubiose next clean out Saturday...the few pounds extra a well worth it in my opinion as it lasts longer. How much is Aubiose locally these days?

 

PS - THornes sell diatom and everything esle you need so save the postage and go there....if Frank is about he will give you some good advice too!

[poppycat]

Thornes sounds good, only thing is I have ordered 3 chickens from omlet so I hope I dont go and see all the pure breeds and regret it

 

I can see how people easily build up a collection