Snow Gone

[kitty]

Pleased to say after the snow has finally disappeared, that the chooks got through it fine even though the snow was up to a foot deep for quite a number of days, although they did get a soaking with the rain we had yesterday. I just think they were glad its all gone and just wanted to stay outside in the "warmer" weather.
I'm also chuffed to bits that the 4 girls are and have been over the cold spell, laying an average of 3 eggs per day which I think is fantastic.
On a different note when the cold weather finally leaves us, should I take any preventative action against red mites or anything else similar prior to the warmer weather (I know its a long way off yet) or do I just wait and see and treat should it happen?

 

[victorias poultry]

In the cold weather each time I clean my hen houses i give them a quick spray with a mite killer or sometimes dettol, when the warm weather comes (doesn;t it seem along time since we had some warm sun!) I spray more thoroughly.

 

[Anonymous]

Rather than wait for an outbreak,I would use diatom in your chook house.As soon as it is warmer i'm going to 'spring clean' both my hen houses.
Personally,I find dettol better for treating red mite in the houses than poultry shield so as soon as they will dry in time I will scrub them out with dettol.

 

[kitty]

Thanks both

 

[Tim]

I don't do much in the winter as Mites don't really become a problem until May. When the warmer whether comes, I spend more time looking out for them than preventing them but at the first sign of any mites, I launch a full on attack with the power washer and diatom.

I think after a while, you get to know where the Mites will be if they are in the house and I do keep a close eye during the summer months.

 

[kitty]

Hi Tim,
Thanks for that I'll put my order for spray etc in so I can be ready when things get warmer.