Should I dust for mites/fleas even if I don't have any?

[Lisa202]

I regularly use DE in the coop, sand run, and mixed with peat moss for the dust baths, but I was wondering if I should be using something better. I was directed towards these:

Poultry Protector
Prozap Garden
Poultry Dust
Seven dust
Ivomec.
or a combination of Prozap Garden and Poultry Dust or Seven Dust and Ivomec.

Are any more organic than others?
Are any dangerous to eggs?
How often would I use one/or more?
If one chicken has mites/fleas, do they all get it?
If one doesn't have mites/fleas, would I assume none of the chicken have them?

Thanks for any advice.

 

[DTRM30]

Hmmmm -good question - the DE is probably keeping them at bay - (some poeple swear by it - others have no luck at all with it) so my guess is you wouldn't need anything stronger unless you see a problem.

As for the otheer half of the question - if one has them - you should treat all of them.

But if you check only one hen and she doesn't have any - it doesn't mean all of them are not infested. Hope that makes sense !

Sometimes one hen will get them and another won't. Sometimes broodies will get them and the rest are fine (because broodies tend to not leave the nest to dust bathe) -

Poultry dust has no withdrawl time for eggs.
Ivomec does unless you use the Eprinex verison.

Dust once every 7 days during an infestation until all mites/lice are gone. You also need to treat the entire coop as well - every 7 days.

Ivomec will also de-worm them.