What is this?! [WARNING! GRAPHIC IMAGES!]

[allison finch]

I read somewhere that you could get a cat litter pan, fill it with dry playsand, add some seven dust and put it in your coop. The chickens will use it as a dust bath. This is reported to be a good way to keep mites at bay. What do you all think?

 

[a2ms4chickens]

I think using Sevin dust 5%, or food-grade DE for their dust bathing is a good idea.

I usually put DE down every week when we clean their pen and so far no bugs.

Good luck!!

 

[emvickrey]

Quote:
I made my chickens a sandbox so I could do just this. I added the sevin dust to the top of the sand. They did noting with it for weeks. After all the rain it washed the sevin dust away and they either sit in the sandbox or eat the sand or bugs that get in it. They made themselves a place to roll aorund in the dirt. I put sevin dust there and they make a new lace to roll around in. I'll have to dust each one myself. I really try to avoid to cause stress. Some of them will let me pick them up and carry around to pet but the older ones I have to chase down or corner.

 

[siroiszoo]

since my hen houses & the yard that connects them is all dirt, the cat litter box wouldn't work. For grins & giggles I put on in when all of this started and not a single bird tried it out. So, I'll just have to treat the houses & yard regularly & keep a better eye on my birds.

 

[quiltnchik]

Quote:
WD40 won't hurt the chickens? Just wondering before I spray the roosts. Thanks!