What makes a chicken coop easy to live with?

[foreveryoung]

I havent used red mite powder, I have been quiet lucky.. I want to pre treat them before they all go back into their new wir when its ready......

 

I was wondering how you apply the powder to your girls?? do you mix it in sand and let them dust bath in it??? can you mix it into something and get them to dust bath in it???

 

Thanks

x

[Space Chick]

I put the powder in the house, generous dusting when I do the big cube clean. I don't put it on the hens themselves, but I do put diatom in their dustbaths

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I sprinkle it into the nestbox after putting clean bedding in .

[The Dogmother]

So do I.

 

Be aware that it's a deterrent, but might not kill any critters.

[chickencam]

I would worry about putting a pesticide in with the nestbox bedding, I wouldn't want the eggs sitting it that really.

[Seagazer]

I would worry about putting a pesticide in with the nestbox bedding, I wouldn't want the eggs sitting it that really.

 

Do you know I hadn't actually thought of that as I usually sprinkle some in the nesting box bedding, hmm is it ok or not? Does anybody know?

[The Dogmother]

From what I remember, Barrier Red Mite Powder doesn't contain any pesticides; it's organic.

 

I tend to put some of that, or Diatom in the dust bath.

[chelsea]

Our cube has a liberal sprinkling all over inside on clean out day.

 

Also will sprinkle some in their dustbath, and occasionally when I am cleaning out the run I will sprinkle a little bit after I've put down the stalosan on the bare earth and then put their aubiose on the top - just as a "freshen up" as it smells so nice.

[Egluntyne]

I grab the hens and powder their armpits and bottoms every so often. I adore the smell of Barrier mite/louse powder and have often considered using it on myself. Just kidding

 

It is organic and doesn't taint the eggs, if it is added to the nesting material, in my experience.

[The Dogmother]

I love the smell of it too, the nest doesn't seem complete without it somehow.

[henriette]

So do I.

 

Be aware that it's a deterrent, but might not kill any critters.

Oh, got that wrong. Thought it did. Is it the Diatom that kills them then? As we can't get either product over here have just received a pack of red mite powder and an enormous drum of Diatom from some visiting friends from the UK.

Does anyone know if Diatom really works as a wormer please?

[The Dogmother]

It's debatable, in the absence of any trial data.

 

Red mite powder is certainly a deterrent, but I have heard of instances where it has been used on birds and not been effective. Likewise with Diatom. There are instances where Diatom has been said to be a worm deterrent, but personally, I'd back it up with Flubenvet; I do add it to the feed on occasion though as it is supposed to increase the nutrient uptake.

 

I powder my house with an anti-louse powder containing permethrin (Called Buz Busters), which certainly does kill the critters. I also add it to the dustbath. As this product isn't licensed for use on poultry in the UK, I couldn't possibly recommend that you do likewise

[henriette]

Thanks for all that info Claret. You're right, you couldn't possibly suggest that I use Buz Busters