Can i give my chickens somthing to fluff in to keep pests and bugs off?

[guineafowlguy]

I was thinking of giving my chickens something to fluff in to kill mites and whatever else might be on them.

I know they have bugs on them because i saw them.

I was thinking of giving them seven dust to fluff in. They wouldn't eat any of it would they?

Or should i give them something else to fluff in?

What do you guys suggest?

Thanks

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Don't give sevin to dust in. It's poison.
However, if you see bugs, dust the birds thoroughly with 5% sevin, completely clean out the coop and nest boxes, dust everything with sevin including cracks and crevices.
Put in new bedding.
Sprinkle Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth (DE) in all the bedding, roosts and nests.
Give them a dust bathing area with sand, dry dirt and DE.

 

[Judy]

I agree, although I skip the DE. It is a debatable product here.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I agree, although I skip the DE. It is a debatable product here.

X2
DE can ward off crawlies but not thwart an intact infestation.

 

[donrae]

I dump our wood ashes in the run for dust bathing. I've never noticed a problem.

 

[Eggcessive]

Wood ashes from your fireplace (or a friend's) are great to dust bathe in to keep the cooties off. I collect them all winter and store them, then put them in favorite dust bathing spots around the yard. And they are non-toxic.

 

[guineafowlguy]

I got tones of wood ash I could supply them all they needed and than some

 

[GreatWhiteAfro]

Would wood ash and sand from my outdoor fire pit be good for them to roll around in? Just curious cause last time I cleaned the pit I saved the ash to use in my garden but it's more benificial for my chicks I'll let them at it!