How often do you all dust your chickens for mites/lice?

[Elite Silkies]

I also use ProZap and DE.

 

[threehorses]

Quote:
On the sevin dust, I can't say for sure but it seems that there is evidence that it will. Even with the permethrin, I try to mix it in well (though I've seen mine get to some before I could catch them and try to eat it - /sigh).

I dust the chickens particularly - especially under the wings, at the vent, etc. Use gloves, put the dust in your hand (even if a shaker can - you waste less that way) or (and this is a neat idea) in a knee-high panty hose! Use that to apply the dust.

 

[sunnyvista50]

I LOVE this site! We got a coup with a run about three weeks ago. We have one small rooster and one young hen. She is thriving. He looks unwell. Thanks to help from site members we got done Gard Star poultry dust at Tractor Supply and some enzyme and probiotic powder. So many good tips for people like us with big hearts but little knowledge fir our poultry. Funny thing is I'm allergic to poultry and eggs so I certainly don't do it for free breakfast!

 

[Dawneebird]

i would like to include some prevenative treatment to my coop for spring. We have not had one hard freeze in NW Florida this year so I am terrifed what the population of fleas and other critters will be this year!! I can purchase some garden powder with permetrim in it at Tractor Supply but it only gives directions for 100 chickens...I have only four....just divide? Thanks again!!

 

[NicolettesChick]

I prefer DE (Diatomaceous Earth) to all others. I use the food grade and it will not harm birds or humans at all but it will suffocate those pesky little crawlies. I dust my girls once a month and I sprinkle it in their dusting spots and in the nesting area. From there they do the rest. Very easy and effective. I do not care for seven or any other chemical based product. DE will also work very well in your vegetable and flower garden to get rid of pests there too. As a bonus it is a natural product and very inexpensive.

I get mine here,
http://www.diatomaceousearth.com/accessories/
and you an get it from Amazon too.

 

[dawg53]

I prefer DE (Diatomaceous Earth) to all others. I use the food grade and it will not harm birds or humans at all but it will suffocate those pesky little crawlies. I dust my girls once a month and I sprinkle it in their dusting spots and in the nesting area. From there they do the rest. Very easy and effective. I do not care for seven or any other chemical based product. DE will also work very well in your vegetable and flower garden to get rid of pests there too. As a bonus it is a natural product and very inexpensive.

I get mine here,
http://www.diatomaceousearth.com/accessories/
and you an get it from Amazon too.

What happens if you and your chickens breathe in DE? Dont you think it harms beneficial insects in your vegetable and flower gardens too?
DE does not "suffocate" insects or parasites, that's misinformation. I suggest you find out exactly what DE does and doesnt do.

 

[NicolettesChick]

What happens if you and your chickens breathe in DE? Dont you think it harms beneficial insects in your vegetable and flower gardens too?
DE does not "suffocate" insects or parasites, that's misinformation. I suggest you find out exactly what DE does and doesnt do.

dawg53 ..... While I appreciate your 'concern' I hardly think this is a forum for you to be so confrontational or contrary. Certainly you are indeed free to use whatever you like with your birds. If you had read the entire forum you would see that others use DE as well. perhaps 'suffocate' was not the best term to use but DE actually 'dehydrates' insects, mites, fleas etc....and they die. See below.......
I have indeed done my research and have used this product for many years. I would not recommend it if I had not. I am well aware of what DE can and cannot do. I use it for a great many things. Of course, as with any product, you'd want to use caution and not breathe it in. I sprinkle it in their dusting spots. For that matter, what do you think happens when they breathe in all of the dirt & dust, that they stir up when they bathe themselves? Now take that a step further and consider what happens when they breathe in Sevin when it is used and it is a chemical product. I suggest YOU do your research, as I have...... before being so rude and insulting.

(actually what DE does is this "Diatomaceous Earth (DE) is a substance made up of the fossilzed remains of plankton; it looks like an off-white talc powder. It can kill any bug with an exoskeleton easily, but is safe for any mammal to eat. It is a popular way to kill bugs without using insecticide. DE works under the shell and punctures the body, which then dehydrates and the insect dies. DE is totally nontoxic. There is no buildup of tolerance like there is to poisons because the method of killing is PHYSICAL, not chemical.)

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[dawg53]

Quote:
I'm glad that you finally read how DE works, not by suffocation, but by desiccation. Thank you for stating facts in italics. Now all you have to do is read what the contents of Sevin dust consists of besides 5% carbaryl. You'll be happy to know that it's DE. However, it's the carbaryl that kills lice on contact. DE wont kill lice on contact, it takes days. As a matter of fact DE really doesnt do much in mite infestations. Sevin dust will kill mites with several ongoing treatments. Coops, nests and roosts must be treated as well, and treatment repeated in 7-10 days. Do you know why redusting is required in 7-10 days?

 

[Michael Apple]

I'm glad that you finally read how DE works, not by suffocation, but by desiccation. Thank you for stating facts in italics. Now all you have to do is read what the contents of Sevin dust consists of besides 5% carbaryl. You'll be happy to know that it's DE. However, it's the carbaryl that kills lice on contact. DE wont kill lice on contact, it takes days. As a matter of fact DE really doesnt do much in mite infestations. Sevin dust will kill mites with several ongoing treatments. Coops, nests and roosts must be treated as well, and treatment repeated in 7-10 days. Do you know why redusting is required in 7-10 days?

X2. In addition, simply because a substance is natural, does not mean it isn't a health risk as you well know. DE absorbs 1.5 to 4 times its weight of water and also has an extremely high absorption rate of oils. This concerns hydration, and oil based vitamin supplements, etc. A loss of hydration can be a serious situation for any bird, but especially a hen in production. An accumulation of DE in the crop or the gut has the potential of causing a blockage. The question of how many birds suffering from crop problems, often posted in the Emergencies section of the forum, could be attributed to those who desire to believe DE is an effective dewormer. A fragile bird that may be suffering from a mild case of coccidiosis or bacterial enteritis, in which cases the intestinal lining would already be raw and fragile, would only suffer further from DE in the intestinal tract. Consistant use of DE in the environment can certainly be counterproductive when we consider the anatomy of the air sac of a bird. How many treatments have proved unsuccessful when treating respiratory problems in chickens on this forum, due to the accumulation of DE in the air sacs from long term use? Those are few things to consider among the short term versus long term affects of using such a substance. That is why dusts in general are a product of the past in my coops besides the occasional litter amendment during Winter months. I will not argue common sense considering the risks among the more religious DE users. They'll learn over time, just as I did with a 1 year trial of using it as a dewormer and mite treatment. While they would grasp at straws, claiming I probably used it "incorrectly", I can only regard that as humor as the ego attempts to save face on a public forum.

 

[casportpony]

What happens if you and your chickens breathe in DE? Dont you think it harms beneficial insects in your vegetable and flower gardens too? DE does not "suffocate" insects or parasites, that's misinformation. I suggest you find out exactly what DE does and doesnt do.

dawg53 ..... While I appreciate your 'concern' I hardly think this is a forum for you to be so confrontational or contrary. Certainly you are indeed free to use whatever you like with your birds. If you had read the entire forum you would see that others use DE as well. perhaps 'suffocate' was not the best term to use but DE actually 'dehydrates' insects, mites, fleas etc....and they die. See below....... I have indeed done my research and have used this product for many years. I would not recommend it if I had not. I am well aware of what DE can and cannot do. I use it for a great many things. Of course, as with any product, you'd want to use caution and not breathe it in. I sprinkle it in their dusting spots. For that matter, what do you think happens when they breathe in all of the dirt & dust, that they stir up when they bathe themselves? Now take that a step further and consider what happens when they breathe in Sevin when it is used and it is a chemical product. I suggest YOU do your research, as I have...... before being so rude and insulting. (actually what DE does is this "[COLOR=222222]Diatomaceous Earth (DE) is a substance made up of the fossilzed remains of plankton; it looks like an off-white talc powder. It can kill any bug with an exoskeleton easily, but is safe for any mammal to eat. It is a popular way to kill bugs without using insecticide. D[/COLOR][COLOR=333333]E works under the shell and punctures the body, which then dehydrates and the insect dies. DE is totally nontoxic. There is no buildup of tolerance like there is to poisons because the method of killing is PHYSICAL, not chemical.)[/COLOR]

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Welcome to BYC! I tried DE... put it *everywhere*, covered my chickens in it and it had no effect on lice. IMNSHO, huge waste of money. Sooner or later people will figure it out. -Kathy