So how do I do this?

[aart]

@aart, we're going to check the birds tonight to see if they need treated at all. I got the Permetherin because we've had chickens for about 8 years and have never treated them with anything but DE. They don't seem to scratch much but we thought we'd better check and then be ready to treat them if they need it. Um .... what should we look for?

IMO, don't treat unless you see bugs.

Bugs check Blurb

Have you checked them over real well for mites and/or lice?

Google images of lice/mites and their eggs before the inspection so you'll know what you're looking for.

Part the feathers right down to the skin around vent, head/neck and under wings.

Best done well after dark with a strong flashlight/headlight, easier to 'catch' bird and also to check for the mites that live in structure and only come out at night to feed off roosting birds.

Wipe a white paper towel along the underside of roost to look for red smears(smashed well fed mites).

 

[BigBlueHen53]

IMO, don't treat unless you see bugs.

Bugs check Blurb

Have you checked them over real well for mites and/or lice?

Google images of lice/mites and their eggs before the inspection so you'll know what you're looking for.

Part the feathers right down to the skin around vent, head/neck and under wings.

Best done well after dark with a strong flashlight/headlight, easier to 'catch' bird and also to check for the mites that live in structure and only come out at night to feed off roosting birds.

Wipe a white paper towel along the underside of roost to look for red smears(smashed well fed mites).

Will certainly check first, thanks. And - if we have no lice or mites, after treating only with DE, do I get to "crow" about it?

 

[aart]

if we have no lice or mites, after treating only with DE, do I get to "crow" about it?

Nope....only if you've seen them first and the DE kills them.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Nope....only if you've seen them first and the DE kills them.

Lol. Well, we went out and checked a few bottoms, necks, wing joints, etc., and everybody is innocent of any creepy-crawlies whatsoever. The only entmological evidence at all is the teensy flying things, the no-see-ums that flutter into my head lamp and bump into my eyelashes. Lice and mites don't fly, correct? The chicken's bottoms, skin and hair sorry, FEATHER shafts all look surprisingly pristine.

Edited to change hair to feather.

 

[21hens-incharge]

If you do need to powder in the future putting some in a short nylon stocking works pretty well.

Like a powder puff from days of old.

 

[Chickassan]

This would definitely cause some nervous tension in the coop.

Have you got a salt or pepper shaker spare?
If so, fill it up with how ever many chicken doses you can fit in it and get shakin!
Under wings, butt and back of neck is what I do.

 

[MROO]

Another easy applicator is one of the small baby powder shakers - the travel-sized ones you can take along in a diaper bag. I used the powder, myself (a great cool-off on a hot day) and refilled the shaker with the bug powder. It's small, it's portable, it's easy to dispense with one hand and it's resealable. Easy-peasy!

 

[so lucky]

I wonder if a plastic container like a restaurant mustard/ketchup bottle with the pointy top would get it where you want it to go. I may try this with some DE, to see if it works.

 

[Mimi13]

Another easy applicator is one of the small baby powder shakers - the travel-sized ones you can take along in a diaper bag. I used the powder, myself (a great cool-off on a hot day) and refilled the shaker with the bug powder. It's small, it's portable, it's easy to dispense with one hand and it's resealable. Easy-peasy!

Make sure you re-label that shaker! “Oops, honey, I done dusted the kid!”

 

[Folly's place]