My Easter egger lost a tail feather this morning. I picked it up to and saw little tiny white bugs moving around.... I'm quite disgusted because I have been really careful at cleaning the coop and spraying with "Care free enzymes Poultry Protector" once a week. I've never seen any bugs on my flock. I have a hen brooding 10 eggs and I didn't want to disturb her so I haven't changed the bedding under her eggs, nor have I been able to clean the small chicken tractor by spraying it out with the hose like I usually do, for a couple of weeks now. I have heard of using Sevin Dust....is it the Sevin Garden Dust? Is this safe? I have also heard of using "Frontline" spray for ticks and fleas. I use in on my dog and cats.....Safe for Chickens? Where can I get DE food grade? What would be the safest and best way to treat my chickens and the unhatched eggs?
Google Golden Blend Group for FOOD grade DE. and IMHP I would not use advantage , but thats just me. PM Dawn419 I think is her name she is a dealer for DE but Since I don't know where you are, google is probable the best try, Custom Milling is another name for Golden Blend. I buy mine at the flea market from a guy that sells exotic bird food like for emos good luck marrie
I got the local feed store to get organic food grade DE for me. I also use Green Light Organic Neem oil mixed with water as a general spray for the environment, cats, me (for mosquitos as I'm sensitive to the commercial repellants). The Neem is also available at the feed store. Google Neem and you will be amazed what all it can be safely used for. We use it all the time and no problems with any toxicity and it does the job on bacteria, bugs and general yukky stuff - like the heavy crusts from my cat's fight to protect his territory and his birds.
Sevin 5% is often reccommended. And yes it is the garden dust. Also permethrin the poultry dust. There was a little controversy about Frontline several months ago, but some people really liked it. Imp- here's a link that might help http://ohioline.osu.edu/vme-fact/0018.html
It was a bigger problem than I thought. The infestation was light but was mainly in my brooding hen's nesting box, the only place I failed to clean thoroughly because of 10 little eggs that I didn't want to disturb. I had been spraying the nesting box with a Natural Enzyme Poultry Protector once a week, but was careful not to get the eggs wet. When Suzie, my hen failed to return to her nest after eating, I discovered all of the mites in her box had congregated on top of her eggs, the only place I had not sprayed the Poultry Protector! I went ahead and dusted the whole tractor with Sevin and their yard area, and mixed some in their dust bath. I use plastic totes for nesting boxes with pine bedding. I carefully replaced the whole nesting box and moved the eggs, but they were cold. Suzie had given up on them
I use Frontline spray on my chickens. It is WONDERFUL. A tiny spray under each wing, between legs and on top of the head will kill any bug on them! It is also a miracle for leg mites. I got a few adult silkies with scaly leg mites so bad that one of the hens could barely walk. I almost put her down, but decided to try Frontline. Completely doused her legs and within three days there was significant improvement! Seriously. This stuff is great.
