As a newbie, I was stressing out about doing the mite check. I was worried the girls would squawk and jump off the roosts......but it was a total non-event. If I can do this, anyone can: I just shined the flashlight on their little bums, and gently started lifting tail-feathers until I could see the vent. I had read that you would be able to see the mites running for cover. No mites~ just pristine little vents. I did not include pics, as my girls are WAY too modest!
Hey, thanks for the tip. I'm glad modesty is a live and well in some young girls this day and age. Mary
Quote:I was at a Christmas party last Friday. One of the caterers wore a skirt that literally came down only an inch or so below "ground zero." When the event was breaking up, she went into the bathroom to take off her apron and came out with a very large ripstop nylon bag over her shoulder. The skirt caught on the bag, which rucked it up just a bit. But the skirt was so short to begin with that her display was absolutely "indecent exposure." And she left the house like that. Just when you think things can't get more extreme, they do.
If you do find mites on your chickens, how do you get the DE on their little derrieres? Do you have to work against gravity to do it?
Not sure, but I've heard some people use a pillow case....adding whatever they are dusting with to the case, then, putting the chicken in with its head sticking out the top. Then moving the bag around to get the dust into the feathers (but not in the eyes). Sounds like a job for 2 people. Good luck!
Thank you sooo much for your confidence building post! I have read over a dozen books, have a DVD on chicken care, belong to two chicken Yahoo groups and this thread so my academia has grown immensity but not my hands on experience as I don't have the "girls" yet!! I really need this info most of all to relieve some anxiety.
