Questions

[llaaadyel]

Im not sure if I am asking my questions in the right place. If I am not, I apologize in advance.

I warn you that I am new to chickens and have a lot of questions.

I own 1 rooster who is actually going to a new home this weekend because he keeps beating up the little dog, and am getting several pullets next month. Because I want a small flock for pets, I decided to get crested chickens.

I have done the research, read lots of books, built the coop etc and learned a lot raising the rooster from a chick. But I am still panicking. My questions are...

I know that chickens love dust baths. Do I have to actually create a pit with sand and add Food grade DE or will they kind of just make their own and then I add DE?

I've read that people dust their chickens with a mix of seven. What is the mix? How often will I have to dust? How often do I spray the coop down? Right now, I only have 1 so I change the coop every other week. I use hay as bedding because it was winter and I wanted warmth. (truth be told, the rooster knocks at the door at 7pm and sleeps inside.)

Ive read about using DE, Stall Dry, or PDZ for inside the coop. Which one is better and how often and how much do I use?

Thank you in advance
LLaady

 

[f8thnjc]

Our chickens find dirt to bathe in everywhere. I don't think that you have to make a special spot. We sprinkle DE inside the coop and out in the run. If you notice a spot that they bathe in most of the time, just add some DE to it. Chickens are really easy to take care of. We make sure there is at least 4-6 inches of shavings inside the coop, and remove poo weekly. I think that completely cleaning the coop every two weeks is not needed. Our chickens have been completely happy and healthy with only doing a clean sweep a couple times a year.

 

[wbruder17]

They will create their own dust holes simply by scratching and fluffing. They will choose the spot. All they need is dry dirt.

DE does not work if it is mixed with water. I do not put any outside where they take their "baths". In the coop, a little DE goes a LONG way. I dust some on the roosting bars and the shelf under the bar where the poop gathers (after I clean the poop, of course) I use pine shavings as well as straw in the winter. When I clean the coop, I will also sprinkle a small amount on the floor of the coop and then swish it around with a broom so it lightly coats anywhere that poop sits.

DE simply dries the poop out and makes it a less desirable place for bugs/parasites that like moist, damp areas to lay eggs etc.

Also, crested chickens are great as long as you only have crested chickens. Often, regular hens will pick on/ pluck out the head feathers of the cresteds and since they can't see very well, can get pretty beat up. This has happened to me and it is very unpleasant to see/ deal with. They also are not very good layers. They are basically ornamental birds, but if that's what you're looking for, they are super sweet and docile (which also probably has something to do with the fact they can't see. Yo can't be scared of what you don't know is there, right?)

Anyway, that's my 2 cents worth.

Good luck and welcome!

 

[Judy]

I agree, use DE, Stall Dri or PDZ sparingly. It really doesn't matter which, I think one of the others has DE in it anyway. I would save the Sevin for when (and if) I actually see lice or mites, but some people do sprinkle it lightly around the coop or in a favorite dust bathing spot. Mine change their dust bathing spots frequently. If they are confined to a small coop and run, especially if there isn't dry powdery dirt available, that's when you might consider making a dust bathing spot for them out of sand or something. It's a good idea to check around the vent and under the wings periodically for this, best done at night.

Some people trim the feathers of crested breeds so they can see better, or tie them together in a sort of pony tail.

 

[Dingleberry]

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My DE is not food grade and they have survived for about 1 year now I did make them their own sand box to bathe in but don't use it, they prefer the dirt they find. and if one starts they all do the same (9)