MITES!!!! Dusted-they seem a little better, the vet is no help!

[bearz]

I went and bought a 50# bag of food grade DE and I dust every single time my dh cleans the coop (about once a week). We have a 12x16 coop and I put in at least a 5qt pail of DE each time. It works wonders. My animals are so much healthier and happier.

 

[kbaij]

I have examined them very carefully and have seen no mites or "bugs" of any kind-I believe they are also molting. The infected girls started losing their feathers around their bottoms, anywhere there were missing feathers their skin was VERY red and inflammed. They lost a considerable amount of weight faster than I thought was possible. Until I dusted them the first time no replacement feathers were coming in. They have now started losing feathers in a way that looks more like molting. I did look at the pics of the others that were molting and mine didn't look anything like that.Since dusting them the second time, they are improving rapidly. I set up a 20lb feeder with oats (now mixed with my DE that arrived today!), along with their usual laying crumbles, and oyster shell feeder. I also set up a dusting box with DE in the coop. I checked the barred rock that was the first one affected and by far the worst, and she has put a little weight back on. I have shut off the lighting that was keeping them laying this time of year to give them a break. Hpefully they will start to trust me again they didn't think the two dustings and exams were funny.