First hatching day! Also need help with pests!

[Shanchick]

WOW! Thank you for the welcome banner! Made me smile

I wanted something that I knew wouldn't hurt chicks, I like what I have read about DE so far!

Do you just spread that on the coop floor AND on the chickens?

 

[Wildsky]

I sprinkle DE all over, on the floor, in the run, in dust bath areas - in the horse barn and such as well. I've not had to put it ON a chicken so far.

I fill up a cat litter bucket - take a small shovel and just throw it around. I probably go through 80-100 pounds a year.

 

[hypnofrogstevie]

DE is the best. Also you can sprinkle it on dog poo and bye bye flies. It works just about everywhere.

 

[jhm47]

You have mites. It's not uncommon, and nearly every flock has some degree of infestation.

Pyrethrin powder over the hen's back, and it will filter down to the chicks and take care of their problem too. It's very safe, and works faster and is longer lasting than the DE. Sevin powder works well also. The DE is great for a preventative measure, but you need to kill these little buggers fast! Otherwise, the mites will sap the strength of your babies.

You will also have to use it on the other chickens in your flock. Also clean everything, and spray a safe insecticide on your nests, roosts, cracks in the walls, floor, ceiling, etc. Good luck!

 

[Shanchick]

I read about Pyrethrin powder online somewhere, I will go educate myself on that also. Thank you!
Where is your preferred place to find that?

 

[Shanchick]

DE sounds like just the thing I really could have used this summer in the horse stall. Gnats were nasty.

 

[Shanchick]

How long does it take for DE to work?

 

[Shanchick]

Well, three more have hatched this morning! So a total of 5 so far!!!
How exciting, this is better than Easter!

 

[Shanchick]

The hatching is slowing to a trickle

Got a newbie this AM, now they are just hatching from the daily eggs the other hens laid near her that she pulled under herself. The duck egg ended up going bad, so its removed now. So Seven peeps! I dusted carefully the whole coop on Thursday. I worked it into the back of momma hen so that most of it wouldn't fall off onto the chicks and TADA! No more infestation. I have tried every grain/ feed store for the DE. Next to try to see if they have it is the Co Op. *crosses fingers*
Babies are all still REALLY happy and calmly chatty two days later. Whew! Thank you for all the advice. I have three different hen breeds and this time around all the chicks ended up the same! Last time they were all sorts of fun colors, had 9, but 7 ended up being roosters! I will hold out hope that more are pullets this time *crosses fingers*

 

[Wildsky]

Quote:
I think it depends on size of bug and quantity of DE.

I had an ant in a container once with de, it did take a day before that ant was dead