I use DE too, but it can be very damaging so please be careful of breathing it in. Just an FYI, I have not found DE to be effective as a standalone product to eliminate mites once the population is large enough to be visibly apparent. I would recommend getting some pyrethrin based spray (you can use horse fly spray with pyrethrin/permethrin as well) to spray down and kill the current infestation, repeat every week for a couple weeks to get those that hatch after the initial treatment. Check your other birds thoroughly- often if one has mites others do as well.
Now, Stevenson: Stevenson was wonderful! I shared a room with several other featherleg exhibitors and, as always, we had a blast. I did very well in the show, made champion row with my Dewlap Toulouse (champion goose) and got BB (white silkie cockerel) and RB (Black silkie pullet). Karen Larson had a gorgeous blue silkie pullet that I thought was the bees knees, as well as a very typey young buff. I was able to get a family of youth exhibitors and another Jr to promise to join the ASBC and come show in the spring.
I met some super nice people, and became closer with some other exhibitors I had only had brief conversations with before. Somehow I wrenched my back, and I don't think it was the massive geese either.
The lunch was, as always FANTASTIC and the potluck dinner was delish. I am hoping to see Gary Overton, Jim Adkins, Glenn See, or Eric Kutch judge the show in the future. The Stevenson venue is so beautiful, you just can't beat the scenery or the location. Love it!
I am glad you said and not me. I sure wanted to say "Me too". I have to many hens as is and I sure don't need any roos. I don't have any room for a bigger coop either.
