[kittyL]

Hi

My friend is giving up her 2 chickens that she has kept at the bottom of her garden for a 18mths.  I know that they have never been wormed and I don't think that they  have mites etc.

But what shall I do?  Is it wise to treat them for mites and insects anyway?

Is Johnsons mite spray enough or should I do something else?  I do have some cat flea drops in the cupboard.

[bantam novice]

Hello KittyL
Johnsons anti-mite is good but expensive.  Redmite live in the cracks and crevices of the coop so you have to treat that as well as the girls. 

On here what has been recommended is Diatom (Diatomaceous Earth) powder made into a slurry by mixing it with poulty guard or a little washing up liquid and water then painted into the cracks and crevices of your coop.

For worms the recommendation is Flubenvet.  herbal/organic wormers like VermX have some preventive use but don't get rid of the worms.

For lice and ticks I have read on the forum that Frontline is recommended, either spray or kitten strength.

Good Luck with your girls and keep us posted.  We love to see pictures if you can post some 

[Helenaj]

Frontline is very effective and so much easier to use than powder. Just one good squirt between the shoulder blades and you're done.

[kittyL]

thank you... I have a huge bucket of diatom so I will use that which is standard practice for  my hens.

is it just the standard frontline kittens drops ?

Thanks Kit

ps will learn how to post photos...

Somehow I have gone from having jsut 4 hens to 4 hens, 7 chicks which  hatched under broody hen and now the unwanted 2 adult hens = 13 

Can't wait to get my hands on these hens as they have never experienced free ranging, dust bath etc

[ManicMum]

They'll be so thrilled to start living a more varied life, finding their food and wandering freely instead of shut in a run.

Well done you to take them on.

[Catsmuvva]

You'll love watching them become free range - I started with ex-bats and they had no-one to show them the free range ropes, they just picked it up naturally, a treat to see   

[Sassy]

It would be wise to keep these chooks separately for a couple of weeks before putting them in with your own. This way you get a good chance to check them for any nasties or if they are incubating any disease. If you can keep them within sight of your own it won't be such a shock for either group when they are put in together.