New Hen not be accepted...

[terryg]

Pea gravel is excellent. However, they need finer dirt to take dirt baths in. If they can't free-range, put in a kitty litter box like I have in my run (see it on my cams at www.HenCam.com) Put in sand and a cup of food-grade diatomaceous earth. With this and good management, I've never had to use chemical wormers (and I do fecal tests on the flock so I know I don't have a problem.)

 

[two early]

Thanks...so pea gravel it is then! I've tried the litter box when I first got the original hens...they looked at it, they walked around it, they walked thru it, they ate some of it...but they didn't dust bathe in it! HAH!
When they free range, they go right over to the compost pile and dust bathe in there. Glorious! I do use DE all over the place and in their feed and mixed in the bedding...they got the worms from the rooster I think and we have also been treating for scaly leg mites (not from the new roo). I was given a English Bantam Game Rooster (Lil' Pappy) and he did not like being caged...he flew at the bars and made a terrible fuss. We figured he was going to do some serious damage to himself and so we let him just join the others...I realized what a big mistake it was when I saw poo with roundworms in it. I figure it was his, never had worms before and so I am treating them all. He is also limping and so I think he did hurt himself in the cage. The next time we get new hens, they will either be ours or I will have means to segregate them before having them join the flock. Thanks again for all the help.