Can I "mDust" a Hen with Chicks?

[wbruder17]

My Silkie has 4 babies, born on Monday. Can I dust her for mites while she has babies this young? If not, how old should they be before I can dust Mama. How old should cchicks be before they can be dusted? Its mite season and I had to dust several of my other hens, but I haven't done Mama as she was on the nest.

 

[Judy]

I would. Hopefully mama's dusting will get some of their bugs, too. I don't know how safe the dust is for chicks, but lice / mites can't be good, either.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I hate to say this, but on the nest before the eggs hatched would have been a great time to dust her. That does not help you now though.

This is just pure personal opinion, no special knwoledge to back it up, but I'd go ahead and dust. At 5 days old, I'd do the chicks too. I would consider the mites more of a danger than the dust.

 

[wbruder17]

Hm. That's interesting. I would consider the dust more harmful. I dusted Mama before she got on the nest, so she is not crawling with bugs or anything. It was more a curiosity. Thanks!