belle
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Posts: 147
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Post by belle on Sept 8, 2011 21:44:11 GMT 8
I moved my day olds into new pen today and found little "nit" like mites on them. What can I use that won't kill them but will get rid of the mites/lice? I've never seen them before and the two sickly type ones were loaded with them (they are much recovered today and peeping like champs). Any suggestions greatly appreciated, as this hatching-your-own is very new to me!
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Post by jacquie on Sept 9, 2011 12:11:29 GMT 8
mmmmm belle, are they with a mother hen? i cant remmeber. if the are with a mother hen i would dust the mother hen and this will rub off onto the chicks (with something like poultry dust or pestene). if they don't have a mother hen, you could provide them with a little sand bath in a cut off icecream c ontainer and mix some dust through the sand/dirt. they will instinctively dust bathe shortly if an area is provided for them to do this. as far as i am aware, and i could well be wrong, its not safe to apply the dust directly to the chicks.
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Post by elizabeth123 on Sept 13, 2011 10:10:00 GMT 8
Read up on a organic product called Diatomaceous Earth ( fossil shell flour) follow instructions carefully as it is drying to both eyes and skin
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Post by quambie on Sept 13, 2011 12:05:21 GMT 8
be careful with this stuff for this purpose make sure its for house hold use first
Pool filter grade diatomaceous earth has been heat and chemically treated and will poison an animal or human who ingests it, so it is always of utmost importance to only obtain food grade diatomaceous earth to use in and around your household. Trev
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belle
Full Member
Posts: 147
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Post by belle on Sept 14, 2011 8:10:44 GMT 8
Thanks everybody! Had a good suggestion - Cydectin - 1 drop on the back of the neck and VIOLA!Next morning, the chicken nits were in a circle under the nest, gone to God and little chickies happier than ever. I'm not sure if it's cleared for use in poultry but neither is Frontline and that works a treat on the big chooks (and everything else in the pet department). Then a quick dash with the flyspray in their pens and even the big girls are happy too. Helps if you can keep them out of the pen for a little bit afterwards. And thanks Trev for the D.E. advice too - I didn't even realise there were different grades!? YIKES!!
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Post by quambie on Sept 14, 2011 8:51:57 GMT 8
not long ago I was boasting that I have never had a problem with lice mites Stick fast flees Well I now join the rest of you guys the only way I could have got them is from wild birds getting into the runs I have had no new stock nor do I want any I breed my own from eggs from other breeders I thought I was safe that way I should be now I have to go to work and break he cycle I spent most of the day yesterday cleaning out pens moving stock and burning off the pens with a flame gun I have we will see if that works never thought I would have to do this Trev
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Post by annieyokie on Sept 14, 2011 17:07:10 GMT 8
I had no problems with stickies until 1 year or two ago and they came in on wild birds getting into the runs or sitting on the netting .Pigeons etc I'm on top of them but the odd pigeon still gets into the pens so Im always on the watch 8-)its ongoing but i have my pens dusted with DE (food grade of course )its just the best stuff. I put DE in their feed for parasite control and extra minerals . The DE of-course passes through the chooks system adding more DE to the soil .No Flies ever.
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Post by quambie on Sept 14, 2011 18:15:05 GMT 8
Hi annieyokie
Thanks for that info. Who told us not so long ago don't believe what you read on this chook site SO WRONG Trev
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belle
Full Member
Posts: 147
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Post by belle on Sept 15, 2011 7:58:47 GMT 8
I reakon my chicky nits were from the topknot pigeons that keep coming in and pilfering the food. Have had stern words with the fat cat and his is now number 1 bird scarer. Although he wouldn't catch any unless the bird actually fell into his mouth. My Dad caught a dove not so long ago in his pens (before the killer duck ate it!) and it was LOADED with stick fasts. He's covered his pens and no problems since. That and the fact the duck eats every intruder. Annieyokie - I will definately give the DE stuff another go. The things you learn from the wise.......
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Post by mardy on Sept 16, 2011 10:10:59 GMT 8
Hopefullly this info will help someone! The female stickfast lays her eggs at night they fall to the ground hatch afew days later then they burrow into the soil approx 15 cms go into a larve stage then hatch out as full grown adults and look for a host. I do not have a problem with stick fast on my chooks at all, my hubby built my breeder sheds and grower pens with concrete floors, giving the juvenile stickfast no where to burrow,even if they do get them from wild birds they cannot perform their life cycle and will die. sadly this does not work for movable pens on the grass once the weather warms up especially summer its time for pullets to move into the sheds the stickfast soon fine them when living on grass. Another way to keep them at bay if you have plenty of water is to soak the ground with a sprinkler especially were they roost the same with movable pens soak the ground after the pens are moved if you have a flea problem. Cement floors must be kept clean dont let the manure pile get too high or they will still breed in this. all chooks must roost in the shed over the cement floor, with no cracks or crevices in the cement it must be flush to shed walls. If you are building a new chook run consider cement floors it will save you a lot of time. Regards mardy
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Post by quambie on Sept 16, 2011 19:18:28 GMT 8
HI annieyokie I have to go to Perth next week for a few days test and the like where do you get your DE Food grade powder from I will have to grab some while I am there as I have no chance of getting it where I am Thanks in advance Trev
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Post by mardy on Sept 17, 2011 7:52:37 GMT 8
Hi I actually got my DE mailed to the farm, I have since found The Green Life Soil Company stock the product the address is 178 Farrall road Midvale PH 92504575 Check out their WEB site as they had closed Wed www.greenlifesoil.com.auHope fully you are not going to far out of your way. Mardy
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Post by mardy on Sept 17, 2011 8:01:53 GMT 8
Hi Belle please be very carefull when using farm animal products on chooks I am guessing the Cydectin was a cattle poor on lice control. Always use a unwanted rooster as guinea pig first, there are some very strong nasty cattle pour on available. When we wean cattle my husband wears gloves for the lice control. We are not even allowed to carry the container he does. Take care Regards Mardy
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Post by quambie on Sept 17, 2011 8:14:50 GMT 8
Mardy I think you will find that Belle is a farmer as are a few of us Thaks for the other info Trev
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Post by chooky on Sept 17, 2011 9:33:39 GMT 8
Trev,
City Livestock on Gnangara Road, Lexia also stock DE. He does them in smaller bags too.
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