Need advice on administering vitamins

[Nif]

I just purchased durvet vitamins and electrolytes...it's a 4oz packet of powder.
How much powder should I mix in one gallon for chickens?
Thanks in advance for any advice!

 

[Barnyard]

I use the same thing and I put 1/2 teaspoon to 1 gallon of water

 

[Nif]

Thanks, I was thinking about that much...how often do you give it to them? I have 11 chickens, only one is a rooster.
They are pretty healthy but I thought it couldn't hurt. A few of the cochin hens have a few lice, but I am also working on getting rid of those too, they aren't infested. I keep my coop really clean but the cochins really seem prone to getting lice.
I'm going to get some DE to dust them and maybe put in the coop under the shavings.

 

[Barnyard]

Your welcome. Depends on what you are giving it to them for. You can give it to them everyday and it wouldn't hurt them. I give mine to chicks that need an extra boost or a sick or injured bird...I also give it when it is really hot outside.

 

[kathyinmo]

I'm going to get some DE to dust them and maybe put in the coop under the shavings.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=2717718

DE will not treat an infestation. Use Poultry dust. Here is a copy from the above thread:

Poultry dust is "permethrin" in its active ingredient. (Always read the active ingredient). It used to be made of flowers - ground up petals. But these days it's made chemically into the same chemical. The reason I don't use Sevin is that it's devestating to waterfowl, of which I have a lot. It also kills honeybees (which are already having enough troubles with diseases) and it's just very very long lasting and dreadful. (Unfortunately I used it for years before and had no idea the toll it was taking.)

permethrin comes in dust and sprays. Dust is usually something like "Poultry Dust", "Poultry and Garden dust", "Livestock and poultry lice dust", etc. The active ingredient is the key. If you use it to prevent or kill mites, you can get liquid. Then it's still permethrin (generally under 10% solution) and called "Ectiban EC", or "Goat Lice Spray". I understand you can use some permethrin sprays on the birds too, but I just use the dust.

You can also use Adams Flea and Tick mist on crested birds, incidentally. It's handy for spot-treating heads, too. Roll a papertowel into a tightly pointed cone - spray the cone end well, use to wipe into their "beards" and around their face (tho not by their eyes). You can cover their face with your hand and spray forwards (from behind their head towards their beak) and ruffle that into their neck feathers in a pinch.

But permethrin dusts for the bird and sprays for the wood are awesome. They do have quick knock down, actually.​

 

[Nif]

Thanks, I appreciate the tips...I really don't like using stuff like Sevin Dust...I agree they are bad for the environment. We need our honeybees!