The returning Sparrow

[Marilynn]

I could not discourage the Sparrow and I got red mites. I use diamateous (i forgot how to spell the word).for the mites and I'm hoping the bird will get a douse of it on her feathers and it will protect her. This is the second time this season she has returned. So lets hope this works.
Do you think this will work. I just put more of the DIA stuff down and in the nest boxes. I had just cleaned the coop. I keep my coop really clean.
I have another question. I have 8 chickens in one coop and only two are laying eggs. It has been this way since January. I know who the one chicken his, but I don't know the other one. Any suggestions.
Yes they are free feed. Then get calcium, scratch & oats. These are all Rhode Island Reds except the Cinnamon Queen
They are healthy and just turned 2 years old.
The four in my other coop lay 3 to 4 eggs everyday even in the winter. These came from my daughter in Missouri and the 7 others from a hatcher and one other is a cinnamon queen and she lays.

 

[CCUK]

Hi. I wouldn't really bother with diatomaceous earth. It isn't all that effective. Use a permethrin based spray for the coop and nest boxes and a permethrin powder for dusting the hens and coop. I'm fighting an ongoing battle with red mite at the moment with the weather getting warmer. Your chickens will deal with them aswell so long as they have a dust bath somewhere in the run.
Are you feeding your hens a good layers pellet as the there main feed. If they are fed too much scratch it can cause them to go off lay and start nasty habits like egg pecking and feather pecking as they are not getting enough nutrients and protein.