veg shortening and mites

[scooter147]

I do change my roosts once a year and then burn the old ones. I use 2x4 flat side up. I buy off the scrap heap at Lowes or Home Depot and generally spend a couple bucks a piece.
Changing the roosts will not solve the problem, the scaley leg mite does live most of it's time on the bird.

 

[saladin]

Paint the roost with burnt motor oil mixed with malathion: rate of 1 gal burnt motor oil and 2 or 3 oz of Malathion concentrate. A whole lot easier than changing them and no waste of good wood. saladin

 

[dancesWchickens]

Paint the roost with burnt motor oil mixed with malathion: rate of 1 gal burnt motor oil and 2 or 3 oz of Malathion concentrate

sounds extra toxic!​

 

[saladin]

Absolutely to bugs. The chickens will have no problems at all. saladin

 

[patandchickens]

Quote:
Burnt (used) motor oil contains a whole stew of known carcinogens, and Malathion ain't especially good for you either.

So why use them -- and expect chickens to spend half their lifespan *barefoot on* them -- if you don't have to?

And most people really, REALLY don't have to.


Pat

 

[saladin]

I use it because I care about my flock that's why. I like long-lived birds that are free of external parasites to the best of my ability. saladin

 

[Wynette]

Folks, let's keep it civil; just because an owner opts not to use a chemical product on their chooks does not mean they don't care for them. THINK before you post.

 

[CUDA]

The big difference is if you own a handful of chickens, or hundreds like Saladin does. You just can't spend the time with each bird like the small flock owner does, and parasites can get out of hand fast when you have a large flock. If you get to that point, you learn quick that it pays to do things like this instead of letting parasites getting dug into your flock and coops. Once they do, it's very hard to get rid of them, and can really harm the heath of your flock.

 

[Wynette]

Good point, Cuda.

 

[patandchickens]

I think that "why use them if you don't have to" (for the generic 'you', not any particular person, if that wasn't clear) is a good GENERAL PRINCIPLE to follow when dealing with chemicals. Use when necessary; do not use when something else will do as well.

If a person has *tried* other things, like painting the roost with oil alone, and it has *not* worked, then obviously it is worth moving up a notch to look for better solutions.

But for most of us, other less-toxic things work just as well. That's all I'm saying.

Pat