Dealing with Lice in Chickens naturally
Oct 22, 2016 19:25:56 GMT 10
remnantprep and ziggysdad like this
Post by token on Oct 22, 2016 19:25:56 GMT 10
Hi again, just trying to contribute as much as i can and of which i have found work for me over the years as areas are and conditions vary differently for animal husbandry and homesteading.
I recall when living in qld years ago, until of course i found God's country 'Victoria' (haha) some of my egg layers were infested with lice. First time id ever seen this, so i went out and got the nasty stuff and got it all over them and it fixed the problem.
Now, im all for avoiding the nasty stuff and going natural as much as you can, but as a homesteader prepper i have got to say guys, i am not against the vet and or some of what i class as the nasty chemical stuff. After all is said and done, its my last resort to vaccinate or use such, but i have failed in both my knowledge and experience at times. That said back to it.
My best answer for animal husbandry homesteading/gardening is to strive to be ahead of problems if you can and implement prevention BEFORE you see an issue. I am always looking to nature to see how best to deal with things.
Chooks naturally love to dust bath, and if you have a wood fire, youll have plenty of wood ash available to put in a corner of the coop for them to mess it all up. The fine wood ash (the light grey stuff) chokes mites. Ive used diatomaceous earth for such and havent had as much success with it as i have had with the fine wood ash at keeping my chooks free from mites.
Mites will upset the bird and it will affect its behaviour, weight, and egg production, so get fine wood ash into a corner for their dust bathing regularly.
If you dont have a wood fire, make a small fire like in a chimineya or steel drum and burn it down to create some. You can get some fine wire and pour the contents out onto it to filter the finer dust from the charcoal as well. And dont forget, you can add the charcoal to your compost as well as your wood ash too.
If you have had mites, its best to clean out their nesting boxes and clean up hard, then get the dust into the works. Your chooks will love you for it and i hope it works for you as it has for me.
I recall when living in qld years ago, until of course i found God's country 'Victoria' (haha) some of my egg layers were infested with lice. First time id ever seen this, so i went out and got the nasty stuff and got it all over them and it fixed the problem.
Now, im all for avoiding the nasty stuff and going natural as much as you can, but as a homesteader prepper i have got to say guys, i am not against the vet and or some of what i class as the nasty chemical stuff. After all is said and done, its my last resort to vaccinate or use such, but i have failed in both my knowledge and experience at times. That said back to it.
My best answer for animal husbandry homesteading/gardening is to strive to be ahead of problems if you can and implement prevention BEFORE you see an issue. I am always looking to nature to see how best to deal with things.
Chooks naturally love to dust bath, and if you have a wood fire, youll have plenty of wood ash available to put in a corner of the coop for them to mess it all up. The fine wood ash (the light grey stuff) chokes mites. Ive used diatomaceous earth for such and havent had as much success with it as i have had with the fine wood ash at keeping my chooks free from mites.
Mites will upset the bird and it will affect its behaviour, weight, and egg production, so get fine wood ash into a corner for their dust bathing regularly.
If you dont have a wood fire, make a small fire like in a chimineya or steel drum and burn it down to create some. You can get some fine wire and pour the contents out onto it to filter the finer dust from the charcoal as well. And dont forget, you can add the charcoal to your compost as well as your wood ash too.
If you have had mites, its best to clean out their nesting boxes and clean up hard, then get the dust into the works. Your chooks will love you for it and i hope it works for you as it has for me.
