Other than worrying about respiratory problems from dust, I am gaining more confidence from repeated dustings with food grade diatomaceous earth which I couldn't buy locally, but if you are interested, I'll look up where I ordered 50 lbs. of the stuff online. I pick up each of my four birds once a week, lay them on their backs on my lap, and pour the DE from a red plastic drinking cup right on their chest, bottom, legs, and neck. Then I work it in to the wing tips, being sure to dump some of it where their wings join their bodies. Anyway, for their heads and faces, I just get a pinch at a time a work it in. Lots of folks in this neck of the woods don't believe DE works very well and they recommend Sevin Dust and swear by it. The also say just to observe where the bird takes its dust bath and stir in 2 cups of Sevin Dust a week in that spot. No bugs. The co-op consultant said Sevin would take care of mites, but not lice. That's why I use the DE. I think it works, but you have to apply it more frequently. I like to do it myself because I think I get a more thorough covering than the birds would taking their dust baths. The good thing about the food grade DE is that it is edible. Some folks believe it is a safe wormer, too. There is no scientific evidence of that according to my vet and the folks at the local co-op. It's natural make up has extremely sharp glass like particles that kill the critters when they crawl through it. It supposedly slices them to pieces! I use it sparingly in my birds' feed. I did however read that if overdone in the feed area, it can dry out the birds insides which is a bad thing. That's why I don't particularly care whether they eat very much of it. As far as worming goes, I think I'll part with my money for stool samples if my birds look anemic or I actually SEE worms to be sure they are treated with the right product for the right worm. Sorry I got off topic a bit. That's just me...tangent queen.
