Australia - Six states..and that funny little island.

[Teila]

Good morning folks

I got nothing! LOL

Just popped in to say I hope you all have a wonderful day

 

[Duckie48]

You should never dust the nest boxes. That can cause irritation. I have used pestene and would again if I get mites. I also use wood ash. I put a dust bath of wood ash in their pen in the summer time and lice and mites don't like it. I also put garlic powder in the feed at least once a week. Mites don't like the garlic either. I do disinfect the nest boxes before I reline it with either straw or wood shavings.
Mites can go months without a feed. They hibernate in the colder months in nooks and crannies especially if the roosts and boxes are timber. They come out in the warmer months. Can cause anemia in birds if not treated.

 

[Teila]

Hey there Duckie48 I am not sure I agree with “you should never dust the nest boxes” [unless this was intended solely for Susan Hampshire whose chickens may have had a reaction and not a general statement].

Agreed, it may cause irritation but it also may not; that probably comes down to the individual chicken. I have dusted the nest boxes for the 4 years I have had chickens and they have shown no signs of irritation.

The directions for Pestene state “Apply liberally to nests and nesting areas”.

It think it boils down to a personal choice and whether your chickens show signs of a reaction.

 

[Fancychooklady]

I stopped using pestene because it contains rotenone, one of the two pesticides linked to Parkinson's disease.

https://www.nih.gov/news-events/new...-two-pesticides-associated-parkinsons-disease

 

[Fancychooklady]

You should never dust the nest boxes. That can cause irritation. I have used pestene and would again if I get mites. I also use wood ash. I put a dust bath of wood ash in their pen in the summer time and lice and mites don't like it. I also put garlic powder in the feed at least once a week. Mites don't like the garlic either. I do disinfect the nest boxes before I reline it with either straw or wood shavings.
Mites can go months without a feed. They hibernate in the colder months in nooks and crannies especially if the roosts and boxes are timber. They come out in the warmer months. Can cause anemia in birds if not treated.

You are better off dusting with orchardist sulphur, I've used it on lice infected goats and horses, as well as chickens.
Mites are more difficult to rid the birds of. The majority of mites will in fact only feed while the birds are roosting , so that in itself makes hunting them down in the day an easier job. Hygiene and constant spraying of the entire coop will eventually see an end to them, but their lifespan is relatively short and so they multiply fast, so repeated treatments are required to break the hatch cycle.

 

[Fancychooklady]

Thank you ...do you suggest leaving the nesting boxes without anything once I remove the straw.; what do they lay their eggs on? Only one roosts the other lay in the straw at night. Sorry I am so new at this!

Hay is a better alternative to straw because it doesn't have the cylindrical shaft. I've used oaten chaff, hay , wood shavings, but not with chicks as they tend to eat it. Just give the timbers a good spray with the pyrethrum spray before you place the bedding in.

 

[Fancychooklady]

Hey there Duckie48 I am not sure I agree with “you should never dust the nest boxes” [unless this was intended solely for Susan Hampshire whose chickens may have had a reaction and not a general statement].

Agreed, it may cause irritation but it also may not; that probably comes down to the individual chicken.  I have dusted the nest boxes for the 4 years I have had chickens and they have shown no signs of irritation. 

The directions for Pestene state “Apply liberally to nests and nesting areas”.

It think it boils down to a personal choice and whether your chickens show signs of a reaction.

Hey Teila , that's true it's all a matter of what's available to you and it really comes down to trial and error.
We've had a busy few weeks here, our girl won the young rider state title and finished 14 th nationally.
Having a horsey break for 2 weeks now.

 

[Fancychooklady]

Thought of you guys when I saw this.

 

[Susan Hampshire]

Thank you all for feedback I have quite a bit of work ahead of me...this week end I am hosting my grandsons Treasure Hunt sleep over for 8 10 yr old boys

 

[LoveInNature]

Thank you all for feedback I have quite a bit of work ahead of me...this week end I am hosting my grandsons Treasure Hunt sleep over for 8 10 yr old boys

Would you like the name of a good therapist.....

Have fun!! Before you can blink they are leaving home. Enjoy the chaos.