How do I dust my chickens???

[momoftwinsinwi]

I have 7 "white" hens -1 white rooster, 7 "red" hens and 1 red rooster. How do you all dust them and remember who you did??? Do I just sprinkle some on their backs??? Or put some in my hand and rub it all over them avoiding their heads??

 

[eggchel]

It helps to get some of the dust under their wings and under their belly at the back end.

Wearing a dust mask is a good idea regardless of what type of dust you use.

chel

 

[lurky]

I mixed it into a big bucket of new shavings and dumped it on the floor. They all jump to 'dust bath' in the new shavings. I imagine that gets it on them better than i can.
I dont really know if this sounds good, but i never saw this addressed here and had to figure something out to get it on them

 

[aran]

hey lurky have you checked them for mites since you did that? Did it work? Sounds a lot easier than grabbing them by the feet, hanging them upside down and dusting all over them by hand.

 

[lurky]

Well to be honest, I dont think they had mites to begin with LOL.
I know the black birds that live in the pines above the run have bugs, so i just thought it might be a good idea. A baby fell out of the nest to the ground in early summer and there were tiny bugs all over so i played it safe. I can't handle all my birds, just a few. I could check the BO's. My new bantams are so far way friendlier than my big birds. They all might like me more because i just got my first bag of scratch

Its been pretty chilly round here so i got a bag. Last night was the first treat and they loved it. So I also see ppl say they calm down when they get laying. All my big birds will come around me fine, but only my BO's like to be handled to where they climb all over me.