What do you use to keep the bugs down in the coop?

[Judy]

DE won't cure an infestation and I'm not sure it does a lot to control numbers. Permethrin/pyrethrin dusts and sprays are an alternative to Sevin 5% garden dust. Permethrin/pyrethrin is available as garden dust or spray, Adam's (or other brands) flea and tick spray, and "poultry dust" type products in feed stores. DE is primarily a dessicant for feed, and is used against soft bodied insects (caterpillars, etc.) in the garden, also dries the litter, thus deodorizing.

 

[phasian]

I use aromatic herbs as DE is not something I want in my birds' lungs. (It can cause silicosis in living creatures. That's why you are supposed to wear a mask when working with it.) Since they scratch around in their bedding they are going to be creating dust that they inhale.

Any herb with fragrance- lavender, rosemary, chamomile, fennel, etc. work great and helps also keep flies at bay. I throw large clippings in their bedding/runs and minced clippings into their dust baths. Works great!

 

[RollinWithTheStones]

Thanks everyone!

phasian I did notice today that when I added a few handfuls pineapple sage the flies did seem to disappear

I'll definatelly use the herbs especially since my rabbit refuses to eat them.

 

[phasian]

Quote:
It's pretty amazing. I was using lavender as bedding in my poultry carriers at a pullet sales event. The other breeders had flies buzzing about their carriers; I didn't have any. While the herbs won't kill an existing rampant infestation, they surely keep the parasites/bugs at bay.