Arizona Chickens

[igorsMistress]

Does anyone routinely dust their chickens or coop with food grade DE? ALSO do you use poultry spray as preventative measure just in case?

I don't think I have mites in the run but I want to do a preventative spray and cleaning

I wouldn't treat unless I had an issue, but that's a personal choice. We don't use DE but started burning wood for ash and add to their dust baths. I''m treating for lice right now, not a good experience. We added a pop door to the coop so we can work on keeping wild birds out of there.
I'm going to try your trick of having food out front for them to keep out of my backyard too. Wish me luck!

 

[cavemanrich]

Does anyone routinely dust their chickens or coop with food grade DE? ALSO do you use poultry spray as preventative measure just in case?

I don't think I have mites in the run but I want to do a preventative spray and cleaning

I have, and use DE (food grade) but am careful/cautious on how I use it.
I place a thin layer in my coop, and pigeon loft floor. (like flouring a breadboard) Then I cover that layer with a slightly thicker layer of Sweet PDZ. (about 1/4 inch). Then goes bedding. I usually use hay, but do have pine shavings as well.
The DE on the base is to control whatever insects choose to visit. The other layers are holding the DE where it does not form dust.
DE dust is not good for us to breathe. (read the cautions on the bag). It is best to minimize things that are less than ideally safe.
DE is not toxic, but under a microscope reveals it to look like sharp crystals. It is these crystals that cut up the insects exoskeleton shells.

The coop, when I do an annual (give or take) SUPER CLEANING, everything is removed. (bedding, nesting material, and anything movable) I hose flush everything, and then spray everything with Laundry Bleach. You need to be careful not to get it on your skin. The 5% bleach is strong enough to cause burns. Flush with water if on skin. (I know most people are aware of this, but I still like to mention it for some that maybe are not)
Obviously your chickens are nowhere near the coop when doing the cleaning. When the bleach dries, danger passed. Your nose will tell you also.
Bleach is a GREAT SANITIZER.

 

[FeatherPugs]

The scaly leg mites were my last straw and I forked over $$ for PSP Elector. I will begin (hopefully I can find some umph in me while cooler this weekend - early, early am) spraying my coop and roosts with this at least twice a year. It is safe for the chickens, etc. It should put a stop to mites, lice and such as that. Doesn't do a thing for internal parasites. Now to DE. I am very careful with DE. I use it in their dust bath areas. I mix it with the moon dust that they love to use. I put more in when I think of it - see what I mean. I've never used it in their food but have heard some do. I currently am using electrolytes and probiotics in their water for the heat. In cooler weather I do use ACV for worms, etc but sparingly as well.

 

[FeatherPugs]

@cavemanrich Are you getting your Sweet PDZ in Arizona?? I like using zeolite on my poop boards in the cooler months and most look at me like I'm crazy when I ask for it. Right now I'm ordering it............thanks.

 

[meetthebubus]

Long time ago I bought organic feed that has de in it, I didn't like that feed it turned neon green when I wet it

Every once in awhile I put in a little de onto the feed now, it seems to help Dina with her poo issue she gets really dirty

I think the dumor was having a poor effect on their system they got dirty more often...

I haven't spread DE around in awhile but will soon

I used it on my young citrus trees, something was eating my leaves and I dumped some on it bc i didnt want to use chemical, and it helped no more leaf eating bugs and it is flourishing

Oh and China won't EVER bathe herself so a dust her with DE about 3 times a year or when I think she needs it

Have you ever heard of a chicken who won't dust bathe? Lol

 

[Michelle Guynn]

My Gus won’t dust bathe.

 

[meetthebubus]

I have 100 eggs what to do now...

Hmm .... make 50 batches of cookies..... a huge egg salad.... i need to come up with a good selling system, i only have one paying customer

 

[cavemanrich]

@cavemanrich Are you getting your Sweet PDZ in Arizona?? I like using zeolite on my poop boards in the cooler months and most look at me like I'm crazy when I ask for it. Right now I'm ordering it............thanks.

Sweet PDZ is a horse stall freshener. It absorbs horse water so as to minimize odor, and lower ammonia output. Will do same on chicken poop shelves. I get mine at Tractor Supply, or other Farm and Fleet stores.
I don't buy mine in AZ. I'm like 1800 miles east in Chicago. I hang out here on the AZ thread because I have Arizona Ties.

 

[cavemanrich]

My Gus won’t dust bathe.

Sometimes chickens get picky as to what medium they want to use as a dust bath. I provide a small area of dry sand in my chickens' run. No chicken ever went into it. They choose other things, like dry potting soil in my pots. I use large pots for container growing flowers in garden and patio areas. I also have a large campfire pit area in the middle of my backyard lawn. They, often times will dust in the ashes.

 

[SonoranChick]

Mine are pretty funny about their dust bathing. The entire run is sand, so essentially they can take a dust bath anywhere. They do not like to bathe in wet sand where the misters are...but they love wet sand from when I water plants outside the fence & the excess water runs through into the run. Sometimes one will just pick a seemingly random spot, and that is the HOT SPOT for the rest of the day! They will all pile up to get that one spot. They are very serious about this stuff...it cracks me up to watch. They almost go into a trance, like a cat on catnip, and sand goes flying everywhere