Lice and mites help!

[LeslieG87]

Hi all,
I'm so frustrated. Seems every few months I check my flock to find lice and or mites again.
I've tried it all, from the holistic approach to full blown chemical warfare....seems I'm always fighting it. Any advice or tips to keep the bugs at bay is greatly appreciated!
I rarely if ever add new birds to my flock, and if I do, I make sure there bug free. I use only pine shavings and change the litter in my coops regularly...
Thanks!!

 

[Poultry parent]

do they have access to a good dust bath area?

 

[LeslieG87]

Honestly no except for when they get out to free range. Could this help?

 

[Poultry parent]

yes it would indeed! chickens take dist bathes to clean themselves and to keep the lice and mites off

 

[LeslieG87]

Thanks!! Any recipe for a mix? I have some DE on hand. Thanks fellow Virginian

 

[ambergds]

I use and old tire filled with dirt and wood ash in my chickens run for them to dust bathe in. The chickens love it!

 

[LeslieG87]

Very cool!!

 

[CluckerCottage]

Clean wood ash and DE seems to be the best combination for us.

 

[LeslieG87]

Just filled an old rubber feed bin, the really big kind, 1/2 way with wood ash and DE. Hope the girls like this thanks for the help y'all

 

[Lisa Wood]

yes it would indeed! chickens take dist bathes to clean themselves and to keep the lice and mites off

I am just sticking my nose in here. I just dont get how chickens think dirt "cleans" them? I get they are controlling mites and lice. But for the cleaning part, why dont they choose water like other burds?