chestnutmare Posted March 24, 2011 Share Posted March 24, 2011 Question is in the title really. How often do you use louse or mite treatment as a preventative measure rather than when necessary? And what do you use? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
txswanie Posted March 25, 2011 Share Posted March 25, 2011 Hi, I use diatomaceous earth. I put it into the nest box and in the places that they like to dust bathe. I also have a puffer bottle of the stuff which I squirt under their wings every so often. I also put a scoop into their food, believe it helps with worms. I was using a commercial mite powder but I like this stuff better. 1 year in and no sign of mites. Colette Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Webmuppet Posted March 25, 2011 Share Posted March 25, 2011 I put a light sprinkle of red mite powder in the nest box bedding. The only chook that does use the nest box is little Snowy ( too posh to push!), she get's a light dusting once a week ( I too get a light dusting as a result ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted March 25, 2011 Share Posted March 25, 2011 I too use powder in the nest box,& I also Eprinex (not licensed for hens in the UK) the girls 3 or 4 times a year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted March 25, 2011 Share Posted March 25, 2011 I too use powder in the nest box,& I also Eprinex (not licensed for hens in the UK) the girls 3 or 4 times a year. Me too and I spray any lice that i see. Job done Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted March 25, 2011 Share Posted March 25, 2011 Oh, so is it just me who doesn't use a regular preventative then? Now I feel neglectful. Just a weekly check (both lice and red mite) seems to work for me and other than the lice they came with, we have been all clear so far. ( it stays that way) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AgaSaga Posted March 25, 2011 Share Posted March 25, 2011 I was told by my breeder to apply lice powder once a month as a preventative measure....A good shake of it under each wing and the vent. I also use Diatom in the wood shavings and also in the dust bath. I have read on other forums of people using frontline for cats on their chickens, once every three months. People say its great - Must be applied on the back of the neck - 1-2 drops for bantams or smaller chickens, 3-4 drops for larger birds. Apparently kills all mites, plus scaly leg mite. Although frontline doesnt enter the blood stream, as its not licensed for use on poultry a vet recommended egg withdrawal for 5-7 days just to be safe. Important to stress that i have never used it, worried that it might be too powerful for them and I have heard of bad reactions and even death when people have used it on rabbits...again just reading forums. Would be interested to know if anyone here as used frontline? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
