im confused about chook health products

[looyates]

Hi all, What a great forum!, Im confused tho, the guy i bought my henhouse from, told me not to spend a stupid amount of money on powders and lotions for my birds, that they will do fine free ranging on my gravell and woodchip beds, and that i didnt need a dust bath either! surely that cant be right, they will need worming wont they? any help would be appreciated
cheers chook fans! pats

[Sue]

Hi looyates
Welcome to the vine, I got told this as well when I got chickens. Then you start reading the forums and people seem to be using goodness knows how much stuff for their chickens.... Currently mine seem fine so don't give them any powders and potions at the moment. just their pellets, grits, crushed shell and greenstuff. Although the most used ones appear to be apple cider vinegar in their water, one week in four, poultry spice and garlic in the water + worming stuff.
But the dustbath, would have thought that essential, they do love bathing and it's good for their cleanliness. Having just moved my chicken enclosure they haven't had time to excavate yet so have given them a big cat litter sized box of sieved earth (and lovely to watch all three trying to cram themselves in at once) They also pick it over and swallow all the tiny stones etc. They also pooh in it so am forever clearing it out and adding more earth in.
best wishes
Sue

[Birdie Wife]

Hi looyates,
My hens don't have a dustbath, but they do have access to the great outdoors so they go off and find their own. It is a part of their natural behaviour and they really enjoy a good dustbath, so if there isn't a nice dry bit of dusty earth that they have access too, I'd build them something like Sue has. If they are free ranging, they'll need worming every month, as they pick up all sorts of things. Precautionary disinfectant whenever you clean the house out and red mite spray/powder is a good idea - Poultry Shield does both I'm told, not that I've ever used it! Some people's are absolutely plagued by red mite and others (like me) it doesn't seem to touch, I think it depends on the area. Apart from that, it's more a case of 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it'.

[OverWyreGrower]

We give our chickens Verm-X, and put down red mite powder when we clean out....

Not sure what else to do really!

[Birdie Wife]

Yes, I use Verm-X too, it's got great testimonials!

[OverWyreGrower]

Yes, I use Verm-X too, it's got great testimonials!

And it's so easy! No spraying or dusting or putting it in water etc! My girls actually really like it

[looyates]

thank you guys im off to get it too then, as for the rest of the stuff ill see how we go cheers all

[TPeers]

I'm one of the poor saps plagued with red mite! The powders work to an extent but I think I would have to recommend jetwashing and a liquid mite spray that you can souse the house in. Blinkin' things!

Don't forget to dust/spray the birds as well as the house - very important!