Okay, so last week I dosed the girls straight from the shaker tube the powder comes in. Didn't think to wear a dust mask... didn't think to wear longs and sleeves... didn't think at all really.
At least I thought to wear rubber gloves.
With help from my partner I removed each chicken in turn from the roost, lay her sideways on my lap so I could get underneath the wings, then had to swap sides for the other wing, then try and awkwardly hold her leaning back a bit to get underneath and near the vent. All the while shaking the powder all over and rubbing it in under the feathers etc accompanied by much struggling, flapping and dust flying everywhere. As soon as I put each girl back on the ground she flapped madly to get away from me and sent more powder flying everywhere. They each got a fairly incomplete coverage due to all the flapping and powder falling onto the ground, and it took almost an entire tube to do only three chickens. I also had an awful asthma attack and loads of dry retching bought on by inhaling it, and had to shower afterwards to get the powder off my arms, legs, face and hair. The whole process took about 20 minutes and much fumbling about.
Fast forward to tonight, after reading the tips on BYC about filling the toe of an old stocking and using it like a powder puff...
I suited up in longs, sleeves, gloves and dust mask, removed each girl from the roost in turn, let her stand on my lap restrained only with a gentle hand on the chest to stop her moving forward, lightly patted and ruffled every inch of her under the feathers with the "powder puff" while she cooed, trilled, and voluntarily stretched out her wings so I could dust underneath. I never even had to twist or turn her, as having her stand on my lap like that I could reach every bit of her with the power puff. Then as I gently put each one back on the ground they simply walked off calmly with barely a ruffle. The whole process took no more than 10 minutes (without any help from my partner) and only used a fraction of the tube.
If anyone hasn't swapped to the powder puff method yet I really recommend you try it! The difference was amazing!

With help from my partner I removed each chicken in turn from the roost, lay her sideways on my lap so I could get underneath the wings, then had to swap sides for the other wing, then try and awkwardly hold her leaning back a bit to get underneath and near the vent. All the while shaking the powder all over and rubbing it in under the feathers etc accompanied by much struggling, flapping and dust flying everywhere. As soon as I put each girl back on the ground she flapped madly to get away from me and sent more powder flying everywhere. They each got a fairly incomplete coverage due to all the flapping and powder falling onto the ground, and it took almost an entire tube to do only three chickens. I also had an awful asthma attack and loads of dry retching bought on by inhaling it, and had to shower afterwards to get the powder off my arms, legs, face and hair. The whole process took about 20 minutes and much fumbling about.



Fast forward to tonight, after reading the tips on BYC about filling the toe of an old stocking and using it like a powder puff...
I suited up in longs, sleeves, gloves and dust mask, removed each girl from the roost in turn, let her stand on my lap restrained only with a gentle hand on the chest to stop her moving forward, lightly patted and ruffled every inch of her under the feathers with the "powder puff" while she cooed, trilled, and voluntarily stretched out her wings so I could dust underneath. I never even had to twist or turn her, as having her stand on my lap like that I could reach every bit of her with the power puff. Then as I gently put each one back on the ground they simply walked off calmly with barely a ruffle. The whole process took no more than 10 minutes (without any help from my partner) and only used a fraction of the tube.

If anyone hasn't swapped to the powder puff method yet I really recommend you try it! The difference was amazing!
