Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[dislaney]

I think my ladies have some unwanted onboard passengers - one in particular has greasy/wet looking bottom feathers and other posts on this forum have advised that this is a sign of mites or lice. Following forum user advice, I've acquired some Johnson's anti-mite spray and had intended to annoint my girls in the open air today - sadly thwarted by the very windy conditions and the fact that they don't like the sight of the bottle, and turn into Usain Bolt when I attempt to depress the nozzle!

 

So again taking onboard forum user advice, I'm planning a stealth operation this evening when they're all sleepy and in bed. The question is - can I spray them all as a batch while they're in the Eglu cube, or do I have to lift them out to spray individually? The former I can do on my own, the latter - being of short stature - I will have to seek assistance from the dearly beloved.

 

Sorry to trouble you all with such a little issue of technique - but I'm keen to get rid of the unwelcome critters! Ta in advance ...

[Egluntyne]

I'd take them out and do them individually. You don't really want them inhaling the spray.

 

Wear a head torch. It'll give you two free hands.

[dislaney]

Thanks Egluntyne - will still need assistance as I can't lift them out of the cube on account of short arms/little legs, but will do them individually as suggested when the cavalry arrives. Head torch is a boon, isn't it? Would be good if they sold a good quality one on the Omlet site!

[Lavenders_Blue]

Yep, it's definitely easier as a 2 person job, so that one can hold the hens and the other spray. You will need to part the feathers and spray right down to the skin as that's where the beasties live and the spray needs to make contact with them. If you're anything like me, you'll have deloused yourself too by the end of the operation!

[dislaney]

OK - mission accomplished! 4 surprised,disgruntled and thoroughly squirted birds - 2 slightly sticky humans. Hurrah for disposable gloves!

 

Do you recommend repeating the dose in a week's time, to make sure we zapped all the little blighters?? I did under wings and up knickers, with a light spray on top and generally underneath.

 

And will it be OK to still have 'ordinary' louse powder in the nest box bedding (shredded newspaper)?

 

P.S. Tomorrow's big adventure involves Flubenvet and some grapes ...

[Lavenders_Blue]

Yes I'd repeat in a week just in case there are any eggs that have hatched and you end up with a reinfestation. Continue with the louse powder in the bedding as a precaution.

Good luck with the Flubenvet, I'd really recommend mixing it into the food rather than blobbing some on a grape. The hens will take the correct amount if it's in the food and it's designed to be taken in gradually during the day rather than in one hit.

[dislaney]

Thanks for that - and the advice on Flubenvet. I'd thought about mixing it in their morning porridge, but one of my girls eats loads of porridge, two a moderate amount and the 4th just a little, so I thought that the dose would be uneven. Following some of the forum threads, this morning I cross-hatched 4 grapes and put a knife-tip pinch of Flubenvet in each one, then played a strategic game of 'chase the grape' round the pen - each hen got one each, so at least I know they all had some medicine! But will this hurt them if they get all the dose in one hit?

 

They seem to have forgiven me for the night-time blast of mite spray ....

[chestnutmare]

I read somewhere that the Flubenvet is meant to be given gradually rather than the grape method for full effect. Mine are picky with their food but they still gobbled their layers pellets when they were wormed. I put a little oil in a container, with a small amount of food and Flubenvet, then mixed, adding a little more layers pellets at a time. That was the only way they were going to get it really as I don't make porridge - they get layers pellets, corn and greens.

[Olly]

I recommend just mixing the Flubenvet with pellets, as on the packaging. If you do the grape method, there's no guarantee that another chicken won't steal the grape and get a double dose; also, as I understand it, by mixing it with the pellets they get an appropriate dose for their size, as large hens will eat more than small ones.