Katy, I dont think there is a specific withdrawal period for dusting with sevin. I think it is more of what people just do. My family has been eating the eggs immediately following dustings for a while. It has only been this past year that after I dust them, I wait about 5 days before we eat them. This is because I have an excess of eggs now. So now I hard boil them and feed them back to the birds after I dust.
This powder is used for fruit and veggie plants, people just wash them off and eat them. I'm not saying it is all natural, it is still a chemical, just a milder one than other ones on the market.
Back to the original poster: most people showing carry a dog spray for fleas and mites with them, they usually spray them immediately following the show, prior to crating them back up to bring home. This spray, although used for dogs and cats, still has chemicals in them. When it come to lice and mites, the quickest way to kill them is with chemicals. You can choose another path and use the DE if you want, some people use fireplace ashes, some use tea tree oil....all of which will work if given enough time.
I hope your birds are alright now from the facial swelling. When I use the sevin, I am very careful to keep it away from the face. I wish you the best of luck with this and I hope your kids have a blast showing them, it is a great time.
