**??How to have a Happy, Healthy Chickens??**

[markb816]

Hello BYC, 1st let me say thank you to all of you on here. Everyone is so supportive and helpful with questions and information.

I am fairly new with the whole chicken experience.
I have recently purchased some hens and wanted to ask some questions.

What is this Sevin Dust and what is it good for? How can I apply it, if I need to?
(Someone said something about putting some in panty-hose to apply to my hens, but I think that would spook them. they are cordial creatures, but they don't dare let me get close enough to do that. And I could just see me out in the back yard chasing chickens around with stockings. This would just confirm to the Mrs. that I have gone cookoo for the chickens!)

How can I tell if my hens have external parasites when they won't let me get close enough to tell?
How important is a dirt bath, we have recently had lots of rain here in Middle TN and theirs alot of mud, but not much dirt.

What other tricks of the trade can anyone suggest as preventive measures to ensure my hens are healthy and happy?

 

[kimb]

The EASIEST way to get them to dust them would be to wait until dusk when they go in the coop (they'll be more mellow at this time too)... then you can pick them up 1 by 1 and examine them then put them back in on the perch with no hard feelings (and even dust them now). (try to keep the lighting in the coop down to a minimum at this time (if you have lights in there - since the darker it is, the less upset everyone will be).

I set up a "dusting table" in my wheel barrel

and put the dust in an old baby powder container. I first put them on their back (since this calms them) and shake the dust over their bellys and with my hands (in rubber gloves) I ruffle their feathers and push the dust under their wings and around their vent feathers, then i flip them over and spring some on their back and using my hands ruffle up their neck feathers and "poof" some dust around their neck. Then just pick them up and put them back in the coop and grab the next victim

Other ways would be to make them a nice dust bath container ( I use an old cat box) and I put some rocks on the bottom to hold it down! (you'd be amazed at the places a chicken can take a cat box). Then I fill it with Diatomaceous earth (DE) and then I add about 1/2 cup of dust to the DE (but this isn't for a serious infestation).

 

[markb816]

I think I would feel more comfortable with providing them with a dust bath container, maybe purchase a litter box, and put rocks in the bottom and fill it and make a "dirt bath tub". Would I need to add regular dirt as well?? What is Diatomaceous earth (DE)? What does it do? Would I add the sevin dust to this in their "dirt bath tub"?? Where can I purchse DE and Sevin dust? Will it harm them? Where should I position the "dirt bath tub"? My 6 hens and 1 rooster are free range and don't venture too far from the coop, usually.
Are there any other suggestions or helpful hints for healthy happy chickens?

 

[kimb]

Quote:
I didn't - I guess you could add sand if you'd like, but what happens is the DE Is very fine (like flour - well it is a flour) and the sand would just shift to the bottom anyway, but it wouldn't hurt (unless they don't like bathing in the DE then mixing a higher % of sand to the DE would probably be in your better interest). (make sure it's a deep litter box

).

Quote:
DE is basically fossil flour, it's ground up really really fine, and it actually kills bugs because it is abrasive and scratches their outer layer and then they basically dehydrate. You would want food grade! (so be sure not to get the kind they use in swimming pools). most livestock stores actually carry DE now, depending on your location will greatly depend on it's availability but you can google it pretty easily and find places that ship it also but the shipping gets pretty pricey. Larger mother companies may be able to tell you where you can get it locally.
Here's some more info:
http://www.earthworkshealth.com/

Quote:
I did, you can get any kind of "livestock/poultry dust" at any grain/livestock store, agway, tractor supply etc. it's not good to inhale, it is a chemical based product (honestly if your flock isn't infested - just a plain DE bath is fine for that added extra protection-since DE in itself is an insecticide by nature) but I would recommend inspecting them at night to determine if you need the sevin dust- CATCH THE ROO FIRST (honestly it's quite easy to just sneak in and grab him). If you have someone else to hold him while you inspect the rest of the girls (or a cage to put him in) it'll go more smoothly.

If they are infested you will need to dust the entire coop/all the bedding/nesting boxes etc.

I put my box right in the chicken coop, they all take turns in the morning fluffing the stuff all over the place and then out for the day

... it is dusty for a while (then it seems to settle) so if you don't have a well ventilated coop, I'd suggest leaving it outside, but keeping it covered when it rains.

 

[markb816]

thanks for all your help and answering my questions