Illinois...

[homeschoolin momma]

What method do you guys use for dusting chickens? Mine are not as cooperative so this will be interesting.

First time I did it by myself and I used the shake and bake method. I put dusting powder in a large heavy duty black trash bag, put the chicken in with the head out and one hand in while shaking the bag. It was ok, but couldn't see very well if I had missed areas.

Now I grab the bird, flip on its back while holding the legs together, and shake my duster can to sprinkle some on and then set the can down and rub it in. Flip bird upright while still holding the feet and do the back half. Let bird go. I did my whole flock of 21 in about an hour by myself, but that includes me chasing them down in a huge pasture. Without all that chasing, probably about a min per bird.

I've tried diatamaseous earth, but let's face it, it just did nothing for my bug problem. I now use a garden and poultry dust which you can get at tsc or on amazon fairly inexpensive. It did the trick.

 

[homeschoolin momma]

Oh, i also filled a nylon stocking with some once and used it like a powder puff. Lots of dust everywhere. Would only recommend that method if you just needed to do a touch up under the wings or around the vent though.

 

[Justso]

What method do you guys use for dusting chickens? Mine are not as cooperative so this will be interesting.

I just got done doing mine. Everyone will be happy to know I do not have a single insect anywhere on my body, The dust went everywhere.
I use a dish pan, knee high high stocking and poultry dust. Put some poultry dust in the bottom of the dish pan. Fill the knee high with a good handful size portion of poultry dust, make a soft knot in the top. Grab a chicken squish it down into the dish pan and start padding the chicken well with the stocking. I'll bomb the head first, then around the neck and move under each wing. Pat down the back to the tail and move up underneath the legs. I'll tilt the chicken up so I can hit the chest and belly and move down around those back legs and vent again.

For the house I used the Dawg53 method of cleaning out all bedding, closing the house down except for one opening, setting a pile of dust at the opening and doing a blast with a leaf blower. It gets in every crack.

 

[Molpet]

I usually put sulfur in the dust bath... but that only works when it's dry or if you have a indoor dust bath.
1 part sulfur to 10 dust bath.
Or hang bags where they can brush against it.
https://entomologytoday.org/2016/07/18/battling-chicken-mites-with-bags-of-brimstone/

 

[Faraday40]

@Faraday40 didn't you teach your chicken to play keyboard? I only skimmed over the post but now want to show the fam and I cant find it

Yes, I'm the crazy chicken lady who has a piano-playing chicken. Technically, she's still learning and has a way to go, but I couldn't wait to share. Video is pretty poor & sideways & for some reason the sound got off when downloading it. I plan to make a better video as she learns.

 

[SnootyHen]

Tell me about dusting. Do I need to do this? And is now the time?

 

[homeschoolin momma]

Tell me about dusting. Do I need to do this? And is now the time?

Yes, especially now is a good time especially since they've been cooped up together with little access to dirt that's not a muddy swamp or covered in snow. Several times a year is a good idea if they dont have a good place to do it themselves.

 

[WhyDoILikeChickens]

First time I did it by myself and I used the shake and bake method. I put dusting powder in a large heavy duty black trash bag, put the chicken in with the head out and one hand in while shaking the bag. It was ok, but couldn't see very well if I had missed areas.

Now I grab the bird, flip on its back while holding the legs together, and shake my duster can to sprinkle some on and then set the can down and rub it in. Flip bird upright while still holding the feet and do the back half. Let bird go. I did my whole flock of 21 in about an hour by myself, but that includes me chasing them down in a huge pasture. Without all that chasing, probably about a min per bird.

I've tried diatamaseous earth, but let's face it, it just did nothing for my bug problem. I now use a garden and poultry dust which you can get at tsc or on amazon fairly inexpensive. It did the trick.View attachment 2549733

So far it would seem my approach would be to cover myself with permethrin dust while holding the chicken.
I say blood in did closer inspection and I believe the girls have fleas and she probably bit herself to scratch.

I applied vetricyn and blue cote. I'll dust her bottom better tomorrow. I'm surprised though because I dusted the nest box good and these two sleep in the nest box.

 

[Molpet]

So far it would seem my approach would be to cover myself with permethrin dust while holding the chicken.
I say blood in did closer inspection and I believe the girls have fleas and she probably bit herself to scratch.

I applied vetricyn and blue cote. I'll dust her bottom better tomorrow. I'm surprised though because I dusted the nest box good and these two sleep in the nest box.
View attachment 2550083

As far as I know, they don't get mammal fleas. I have only heard of stick tight fleas on poultry, but there's a lot I haven't heard of.

 

[Molpet]

Glad these aren't around here, but bobcats are by me.
https://bc.ctvnews.ca/let-s-go-see-...ures-lynx-after-chicken-coop-attack-1.5321558