So how do I do this?

[21hens-incharge]

ROFLOL.....get a small plastic tote, and pour the powder in. Lift a chicken, and set it in the tote. Scoop small handfuls of powder onto the back, extend the wings and do them, do under the wings, now move down to chest, underbelly, and vent area. Put a tiny bit on your fingers, and start rubbing them in the comb, top of head, ears, and waddle areas. Now let the chicken go, and move on to the next one.

Tooooo funny!!!

I tried that my first go round.

Let's just say I got seriously flogged, powdered, and clawed by several hens and did not need to dust the coop as they did it for me.

 

[getaclue]

Oh, when you get them into the tub, make sure you keep one hand on their back. This helps control them. The second time, it should go a good bit easier than the first.

 

[MROO]

ROFLOL.....get a small plastic tote, and pour the powder in. Lift a chicken, and set it in the tote. Scoop small handfuls of powder onto the back, extend the wings and do them, do under the wings, now move down to chest, underbelly, and vent area. Put a tiny bit on your fingers, and start rubbing them in the comb, top of head, ears, and waddle areas. Now let the chicken go, and move on to the next one.

But wear a mask and protect the chicken's respiratory system somehow, as well You do not want them breathing the stuff in any more than you want to take it in, yourself!

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I am really appreciating and enjoying all the input, guys! Obviously I am going to have to either get some little chicken goggles and masks ... or take this back and get the spray. Oh wait ... I can just take it back and get my money back, since it turns out my chickens don't have creepy-crawlies!

 

[Sea Wolf]

Don't worry about measuring. Only just so much will stay on the bird after it shakes. Do the whole bird, not just it's butt. Get a small washtub and hold the bird down inside and powder away. Work the powder down to the skin, turn it loose and get another. I quit powdering a long time ago. I now get 30% permethrin concentrate and dilute it for direct application. I fill a 5 gallon bucket with 4 gallons of it. Stuff each bird into the bucket and slosh it around and work the liquid into every feather until the bird is soaked. Drain them a bit back into the bucket and let them run off to dry. A lot easier and they dry fast on a warm day. I also make a stronger solution with the same concentrate and spray the entire coop inside. Done once a year and never any mites.

 

[Judy Todd]

Okay, so I got a 2# canister of Permethrin at the feed store yesterday. It says it will treat 100 chickens per lb. I have 23 birds. So I need about a quarter pound to treat all my chickens. Two questions. First, how do I figure what a quarter pound of this powder looks like without pouring into a separate container, and from there, how do I figure how much per bird? And second, how exactly do I get it from the canister onto my chickens' behinds? (Was that three questions?)

Don't answer yet. Of course I'm going to do gloves, goggles and dust mask. And I know to protect food, water and nests. But I can't just flip this can over and do the salt shaker thing, my arms are not strong enough for that. But I also can't see what I'm doing unless my eyes are about two inches from the chicken's butt because I don't see well.

So. Is there another way to do this? Can I put a small amount per hen in my hand (how much?) and pat it onto her fanny while holding her in my other arm? We also have to inspect them first tonight, we haven't done actually done that yet. I do have a nice little head lamp, that is a BIG help. Last night we got them all leg-banded again (some had lost their baby bands).

Oh, and do I need to get the powder ALL OVER each hen, like from neck to vent, between legs, under wings, etc.?

This the first time we've used Permethrin. We've only used DE in the past. So - All suggestions welcome! Thanks.

I have an old, very old, aluminum shaker that I used to use for cinn sugar on toast. it works like a charm, Tuck the hen under your arm, butt in the air and shake. It helps to have two people, but I am widowed, so have to figure out ways to do this myself. I also dust the roosts when I have a problem.

 

[msheff]

I use a plastic restaurant bottle like a catsup or mustard bottle but clear. I cut the tip a bit to make a bigger opening. It works great as you can squirt a small amount right where you want it and just rub it in a bit to spread the powder. The chicken will also fluff herself when you’re done which spreads it around her body a bit more. I’m not that experienced but can do 11 chickens in about 15 minutes by myself with my wife watching from afar rooting me on because she doesn’t want to mess around with the hens hind end...

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Don't worry about measuring. Only just so much will stay on the bird after it shakes. Do the whole bird, not just it's butt. Get a small washtub and hold the bird down inside and powder away. Work the powder down to the skin, turn it loose and get another. I quit powdering a long time ago. I now get 30% permethrin concentrate and dilute it for direct application. I fill a 5 gallon bucket with 4 gallons of it. Stuff each bird into the bucket and slosh it around and work the liquid into every feather until the bird is soaked. Drain them a bit back into the bucket and let them run off to dry. A lot easier and they dry fast on a warm day. I also make a stronger solution with the same concentrate and spray the entire coop inside. Done once a year and never any mites.

Hmm. I was hoping for a method we could do at night so we could just pluck each bird off the roost when they can't engage us in a chase. Bathing 23 chickens in daylight hours sounds like a bit of a rodeo, and it's too hot to be safe for them. But thanks for the suggestion!

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I use a plastic restaurant bottle like a catsup or mustard bottle but clear. I cut the tip a bit to make a bigger opening. It works great as you can squirt a small amount right where you want it and just rub it in a bit to spread the powder. The chicken will also fluff herself when you’re done which spreads it around her body a bit more. I’m not that experienced but can do 11 chickens in about 15 minutes by myself with my wife watching from afar rooting me on because she doesn’t want to mess around with the hens hind end...

Thanks, this sounds do-able. I'll keep it in mind!

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I have an old, very old, aluminum shaker that I used to use for cinn sugar on toast. it works like a charm, Tuck the hen under your arm, butt in the air and shake. It helps to have two people, but I am widowed, so have to figure out ways to do this myself. I also dust the roosts when I have a problem.

Thanks, I can see this working, too.