- Feb 9, 2009
- 16
- 0
- 22
Quote:
Don't ever apologize for questions! It gives us something to talk about
Are you putting DE in the nests, dusting it on the birds, or how are you using it? A rooster is most likely to cause feather loss on the back of a hen's head and on their backs.
Have you candled the eggs to see if they are fertile and developing? Is it the broody hens that are losing their chest feathers? Chickens will pull their own feathers on their chest when they are sitting on a nest so that they are skin to eggs, which helps regulate the egg temperature and humidity.
If you think there might be mites in the nest, I suggest that you remove all the bedding, put DE on the bottom of the nest and replace the bedding with fresh. You can dust the birds with DE also, but be careful that you don't breathe the DE dust. Even though you are using food grade DE and you could safely eat it and the hens could eat it as well, the DE is not good for lungs.
Others will have more information about mites.
Thanks for responding!I have been putting DE in the nests, on the birds (when I can catch them), in their run and on the floor in their coop. The hens that are losing their feathers are not broody. I have candled the eggs and so far there has been nothing in them. When I have cracked eggs for breakfast, there are some eggs that are fertile. I wonder if it is because my rooster is smaller than most of my hens. Is there a good way to apply the DE without breathing it in? I will start wearing a mask. Thanks again for replying!!
Don't ever apologize for questions! It gives us something to talk about
Are you putting DE in the nests, dusting it on the birds, or how are you using it? A rooster is most likely to cause feather loss on the back of a hen's head and on their backs.
Have you candled the eggs to see if they are fertile and developing? Is it the broody hens that are losing their chest feathers? Chickens will pull their own feathers on their chest when they are sitting on a nest so that they are skin to eggs, which helps regulate the egg temperature and humidity.
If you think there might be mites in the nest, I suggest that you remove all the bedding, put DE on the bottom of the nest and replace the bedding with fresh. You can dust the birds with DE also, but be careful that you don't breathe the DE dust. Even though you are using food grade DE and you could safely eat it and the hens could eat it as well, the DE is not good for lungs.
Others will have more information about mites.
Thanks for responding!I have been putting DE in the nests, on the birds (when I can catch them), in their run and on the floor in their coop. The hens that are losing their feathers are not broody. I have candled the eggs and so far there has been nothing in them. When I have cracked eggs for breakfast, there are some eggs that are fertile. I wonder if it is because my rooster is smaller than most of my hens. Is there a good way to apply the DE without breathing it in? I will start wearing a mask. Thanks again for replying!!
all day on a horse is not good when you have not rode one in a wile:/
