Dusting Chickens.....

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hi,
I've got a powder made by Nettex for dusting on chooks,it's from their poultry solutions range, red mite killer.I haven't actually dusted a chook before,and assume that I would need to cover their eyes and nostrils to prevent the dust being inhaled or irritating to their eyes,and also need to rub it into the feathers as close to their skin as possible.any tips on how to do this would be greatly appreciated.
Also,am i correct in assuming red mites do prefer the feathered body parts of a chook as opposed to their legs etc,or do I need to dust their legs as well.
Thanks in advance,
 
To dust chickens, its easier with two people, one to hold the chicken with its bottom in the air, just part the feathers and sprinkle the powder around its rear end, no need to rub in, and the powder souldnt be near its face, you dont have to smother the chicken with powder. unless you have a really bad mite problem, their souldnt be to many on the chickens, lice are more of a problem.
 
thanks Ameeyl,I haven't found any mites on the actual chooks.When I cleaned the house out I found some in there.Slightly gutted as I strip it completely once a week,squirt poultry shield into all cracks etc and when it's dry rub diatom powder onto perches,divider etc and anywhere else I think a mite might crawl on to get to a chook.Was going to treat the birds as well to discourage mites from going on them to feed.
Will dust them carefully tomorrow,thanks.
 
It's very, very hard to get rid of red mites completely - what I do after 'deep cleaning' the house with a pressure washer is dust the perches with Diatom - rubbing it in so its like a gymnasts bar. Then repeat this every few days for a few weeks. Whenever the mites go to feed, they will have to go through the diatom.

It takes a few weeks before you can't find any more mites at night but even a few left will multiply very quickly (in the warmer months) so it's better to keep up the treatment for a while afterwards to save having to repeat it all over again a few weeks / months down the line.

I wrote a blog on how to get rid of red mites which describes what I do a bit better.
 
I rubbed diatom onto perches and other area's I thought red mite might lurk before I got the chooks.Did it in the morning just before I went to get them.I've also done it daily since saturday when i found the little bli***ers. :twisted: and yes I did enjoy puffing diatom on the 3 I caught and rubbed it in to make sure they got the message-well,dried out.I just hoped that the problem wouldn't get too bad at this time of year.The only thing I stopped doing was putting rosemary (that well known mite deterant) :lol: in their bedding.So I've also started doing that again.......me thinks my poor chooks think I'm seasoning them,ready for the pot ;) .
I have read your article Tim,I read it before I got the chooks,which is why I used diatom in their new house before they went in.I think it's a very good article and certainly helpfull.
I strip the house weekly,and spray poultry shield into all nooks and crannies,wait for that to dry before rubbing diatom in,I make the poultry shield up at 10% solution,maybe i'll try 20% whilst the mites are obvious.
 
i was just reading on another poultry forum, that the best way to cure red mite is to paint the whole of your chicken shed with neat domestos and people seem to find it works great
 
Thanks Girlracer,I'll give it a go tomorrow.I think Snifter said in a post somewhere she uses Dettol.I also read on another site about painting the house with creosote,I've never used creosote,always used to use sump oil,i don't know anyone now with a tractor for sump oil.......So i'll give a dettol a go.
 
yh i heard creosote was great too, but you need to not allow chickens in for a good couple of weeks after so i might give it a try when i buy my new chuck house soon
 
:D Wow - serious stuff... I just had that advert in my head saying "Big Bad DOM - Kills all known germs (and Red Mite) DEAD!" :lol:

Will have to give that one a try - make sure you ventillate the house well afterwards.

Creosote has to be the old type, still available in farming stores for agricultural use, not creosote substitutethat you find now in the DIY shops...
 
girlracer265 said:
yh i heard creosote was great too, but you need to not allow chickens in for a good couple of weeks after so i might give it a try when i buy my new chuck house soon
Click to expand...


You're brave girlracer,I'd be too worried about killing my chooks to let them anywhere near creosote.Although when dry it will be harmless.

I've got my dettol,and,will suggest to the manufacturer Tim that they make a new advert :mrgreen: .
 
Tim said:
:D Wow - serious stuff... I just had that advert in my head saying "Big Bad DOM - Kills all known germs (and Red Mite) DEAD!" :lol:

Will have to give that one a try - make sure you ventillate the house well afterwards.

Creosote has to be the old type, still available in farming stores for agricultural use, not creosote substitutethat you find now in the DIY shops...
Click to expand...
lol that was sorta what was going through my head too but my guess is if they hear about it they will market a product costing lots more money
Lydia said:
You're brave girlracer,I'd be too worried about killing my chooks to let them anywhere near creosote.Although when dry it will be harmless.

I've got my dettol,and,will suggest to the manufacturer Tim that they make a new advert :mrgreen: .
Click to expand...
well im hoping when i finally get the house im wanting i can creosote it and wait a good month for it to dry be4 i use it
 
Well hopefully the weather will stay dry and breezy for you,then it will.
 
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