Is your dog's unusual barking a secret code for something mysterious?

[shtw00724]

Yikes!

 

I started itching a few weeks ago and eventually cottoned on to the fact that it happened only after I had been out to my hen house. I have thoroughly cleaned it and noticed these white/grey mites/lice there so I used some mite spray after discinfecting the hen house but they are still there! My hens have a big kiddy's sand pit below their sleeping quarters which is filled with bird sand/oyster shell but they don't seem to be using it, preferring instead to dig down in the dirt in what was my lawn. I am getting these horrible little creatures on me (very tiny, barely visible to the human eye) making me itch and constantly scratching so goodness knows how the chickens feel. I have read you can use frontline spray - is that safe (I know it's not sanctioned for use in birds) and if so, at what dosage? Should I bathe the birds in sand myself? I also read that you can ue cold ashes from a fire to bathe them in. I don't want my chooks to get sick and it's embarassing sitting here scratching like a monkey!

[The Dogmother]

See this thread....