About mites I know this is off-track regarding SOP but it's so important). We use white, food-grade, diatomaceous earth (DE) to prevent mites and it's worked since 2008. The 'diatom' is a mineral dessicant which makes the environment unsuitable for mites. It is safe to use in dust-bathing, and should be applied where mites make nests- overhead, on beams, in lofts, in cracks and any hole that goes behind a wall panel, under the ends of roosts. It's so effective that many new hotels use it behind wall and ceiling panels which can be unscrewed to check for bed bugs. We buy it in 50 lb bags for three coops in our barn and that bag lasts us a year. Not only that but when you dispose of bedding or droppings, flies avoid it in your dump pits. You will see few flies in your coops too. We dust above the birds in the loft, on every platform/roost, in bedding and add it to any dust bathing hole they dig. Be caeful to avoid the gray food-grade DE, though, it's contaminated with bentonite clay and the bids hate it- they can't groom and it must taste awful. The white stuff, though, is precious, and does not affect eggs or meat the way insecticides can. In Canada a 50 lb bag may be $35 to $72, cheaper in the west, the difference is in shipping costs.
