Chicken boarders

[Sageandonion]

Just wondering how often hens should be dusted with diatom and should I use anything else on them to keep nasties at bay - apart from worming stuff that is.

 

Thank you.

[Redwing]

The diatom should be fine, check them weekly, dust them monthly if nothing is found just as a precaution

 

Use the diatom in the nest box weekly

 

If you get a mite/louse outbreak dust straight away (and clean and dust the house if its mites) and dust again after a few days and again a few days after that

[Sageandonion]

Thanks Tasha

 

Sorry another question. With the diatom in the house/nestbox do we put the diatom in 1st, then the bedding on top - we're using aubiose (sp?) or do we mix diatom in with the aubiose or both? Hope that makes sense. We're doing the 1st big clean tomorrow, have been poo picking every day. When we got the girls nearly 2 weeks ago we sprinkled diatom all over, then put a layer of newspaper down then the aubiose on top of the newspaper. We put a layer of newspaper down so that it would be easier to remove the bedding on cleaning day. Is it ok to line the house/nestbox with newspaper or should we ditch the newspaper ? We have a wooden house.

[Christian]

I don't see a problem with the newspaper lining. I would mix the diatom in with the aubiose. I don't use it, but sprinkle red mite powder in the nest box and dust bath once a week. Also at the ends of the roosting bars.

[Sageandonion]

Will do - thanks Christian.