I had a roach problem in a storage shed at work. I used Borax on the floor after people saying on the internet how effective it was against roaches. The Borax did nothing. After reading on here about diatomaceous earth, I decided to use it for my chickens as a mite/lice preventative and to solve the roach problem.
I used it in my run where they take dust baths, on the roost, and in the nesting boxes. At work in the storage room, I spread it on the floor and up on the shelves.
After four months of DE application I noticed no difference in the storage room roach count. There were roaches, silverfish, and spiders still in the nesting boxes in the coop. The nesting boxes are unused yet. The chickens have no lice/mites but that may be because they just don't have lice/mites.
I was looking at Sevin dust as I have used it in my garden for years but decided to give Permethrin a chance. (Bayer Complete Garden Dust 0.25% permethrin), I think I paid about $5.50 for 5 lbs. The bag says you can use it on cats and dogs. I work outside in the woods and use 0.50% permethrin on my clothes so I know it works on chiggers (spider mites). I sprinkled some in the storage room last night and in the nesting boxes.
This morning when I checked the nesting boxes of my not started laying yet freeloading hens, I noticed a lack of above referenced crawlies. When I checked the storage room it looked like a roach massacre had taken place.
Permethrin is my new best friend.
I wanted to give DE a chance but it did not live up to expectations. Just my 2 hundredths of a dollar.
I checked several other "poultry dusts" and they are 0.25 permethrin but costs 2 to 3 times more.
Exact same ingredients.
I used it in my run where they take dust baths, on the roost, and in the nesting boxes. At work in the storage room, I spread it on the floor and up on the shelves.
After four months of DE application I noticed no difference in the storage room roach count. There were roaches, silverfish, and spiders still in the nesting boxes in the coop. The nesting boxes are unused yet. The chickens have no lice/mites but that may be because they just don't have lice/mites.
I was looking at Sevin dust as I have used it in my garden for years but decided to give Permethrin a chance. (Bayer Complete Garden Dust 0.25% permethrin), I think I paid about $5.50 for 5 lbs. The bag says you can use it on cats and dogs. I work outside in the woods and use 0.50% permethrin on my clothes so I know it works on chiggers (spider mites). I sprinkled some in the storage room last night and in the nesting boxes.
This morning when I checked the nesting boxes of my not started laying yet freeloading hens, I noticed a lack of above referenced crawlies. When I checked the storage room it looked like a roach massacre had taken place.
Permethrin is my new best friend.
I wanted to give DE a chance but it did not live up to expectations. Just my 2 hundredths of a dollar.
I checked several other "poultry dusts" and they are 0.25 permethrin but costs 2 to 3 times more.
Exact same ingredients.
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