Bug Me Not....

This is getting to be the time of year when it's essential to prepare for the winter season and get rid of what may BUG your chickens.  There are all sorts of annoyances for poultry, and some may seek to destroy your flock of birds.  Red mites are one of those creepy crawly little creeps!  I've not had that happen with my girls yet (knock on wood!), but they are blood suckers and drain the life right out of your hens by feasting on their blood and leaving poultry anemic, causing eventual death.  Red mites like to hide in corners and the underside of roosts - and they will scatter in groups if bright lights are shown on them.

Scaly Leg Mites are another horror - they are painful for the birds and will get under the skin and lift the scales as they burrow in for their feast.  The toes and legs of the chicken will have a flaky or moldy appearance, where they should be smooth and healthy looking.
 
Lice (no picture this time!) can also be a concern.  These are usually easy to see if you part the feathers down to the skin under the wing and vent areas, but if the bird is highly infested, you can see them crawling on top of the feathers as well; there will be noticeable "group movement"!  UGGGH!

These are just a few of the bugs to be treating your flock for before winter sets in.  Prevention is the best medicine.  I treat my hens with powder and do a wing clip this time of year.  I'd rather do it while its still pleasant out, and again in the spring, than to have to treat in dead of winter.  I had brought in new hens last winter and had to treat the entire flock because of something the new girls brought in because I was too trusting of the person I bought the 2 hens from and didn't ask enough of the right questions.  I don't want to go through THAT again!!!   
TIP:  It's always best to isolate new layers for a few weeks, worming them and treating them for parasites, before introducing them to your healthy birds!

I've heard a good thing to use year round is called Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth.  Has anyone had any experiences using it?  Here is some information I found on the web...click on the link below and scroll towards the bottom of the page.  This could be a very useful product for more than just hens! 

Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth (Fossil Shell Flour)

 Taking Care of Business -
the Chicken Wrangler