Making Lemonade [Selective Culling Project - very long term]

[U_Stormcrow]

This is the first time I've had problems - and the only birds that seem visibly affected are my 3+ year old molting Comets. Shocker, right? Another consequence of not being bred for longevity, their immune system just isn't there, and add the stress of molt to it, that's just too attractive to mites looking for a place to make a home.

 

[Sally PB]

Looks like migrating birds brought mites. Spot treated a couple birds. Sprayed the whole coop and the goat barn.

What are you using to treat the birds, coop, and barn?

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Permethrin. 10% Liquid premix. I have a pump up sprayer for the buildings, and a spray bottle for my birds to spot treat. One has a shoulder that's crusty, one a spot on her saddle, and one has a bit on one foot.

I did NOT follow the instruction re: concentration for the coop. I'm applying at 1:24 for the buildings, rather than the 1:100 recommend. There will NOT be a re-infestation. Obviously not applying at that concentration on the birds. Doing the recommended 1:50 there.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

No news, just lots of rain and (for Florida) cold. Haven't set any new eggs to hatch, haven't paired any new bunnies up, haven't taken any goats (or ducks) to freezer camp. I can't work in these conditions.

 

[Sally PB]

Sorry to hear your conditions are so inhospitable. Nature is "the other kind of mother" sometimes.

 

[Sally PB]

How did the mite treatment go?

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Seems to be working well. Will know more once I'm not trying to chase chickens in the cold and mud.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Going to mix a second batch and retreat the coops with the real sprayer, not the hand pump, to get all over coverage - I focused on cracks, crevices, and places where the chickens were likely to sit the first time around.

 

[MysteryChicken]

How's the youngsters looking? Haven't been receiving notifications, & there's too many pages to catch up too.

 

[MysteryChicken]

Also dropped by to share the weight of my 2yr old Malay hen. She's about a pound, or two underweight. But still very hefty.