How often do you dust for mites/lice?

[dixiechick]

How often do you routinely dust for mites/lice? Only when they are present? Or more often to keep them at bay? How much is too much?

 

[Jenski]

I used to do it every couple of weeks as a preventive, but my Avian vet and I chatted about this recently and he is in favor of less dusting ~ say, every 3-4 months unless there is a problem. He didn't cite the toxins in the dust so much as the delicate nature of the bird's respiratory system.

Hope that info helps. Good luck!

 

[geoaware]

...am I a bad chicken dad? I have never dusted my girls...they don't seem to have a problem...but should I dust them?

 

[bUg_Farm]

I haven't either. I planned on doing a yearly maintenance. Perhaps I should increase it?

 

[Chickenaddict]

I do it twice a year, once in the early spring and once in late fall

 

[waynesgarden]

I've never routinely treated for anything. If a problem presents itself, then I deal with it.

I'm not biologist but I think there may be something to the idea that the over-application of chemicals might lead to the problem target developing resistance to the remedy.

Wayne