Hi there!
Thanks for the info on codliver oil. It doesn't agree with me, I take flaxseed oil but I'll get some for the hens. There are even more feathers around the garden today and they haven't been eating as much this last few days so looks like moulting is starting. Well,I can't help myself when it comes to picking up Solo and I was feeling very creepy so yesterday I started the 2 weekly clean-out of the hen house and nest boxes. So far I've used a cloth and a bucket of water and jeyes fluid (is jeyes fluid the best for this?) and never had any signs of critters but yesterday I made up a solution in a spray bottle and sprayed the perch, walls etc. After a couple of minutes I noticed a few wee creepies on the perch, so I sprayed some more, this continued several more times until I decided enough was enough and dismantled the perch to find loads of red mites of various sizes. Not to be beaten I drowned and scrubbed the bug-gers! I spray cleaned the house and nest boxes and replaced the woodshavings and nesting straw. I sprinkled loads of powder as recommended on the tub (I've put the powder down every 2 weeks) and I dusted the hens just to be sure - ( they were dusted on 15th August and I've never seen anything crawling on them. ) I used an alternative perch and last night went with a torch and checked for signs o f mites - none were found. The powder for the house etc is, Red mite and louse powder p-menthane-3,8- diol. The powder for the hens is Poultry louse powder permethrin (25:75 cis: trans isomeric ration. The vet says thats the strongest can be sold and my hens are probably still not strong enough for anything else. I'm planning to do the house etc and hens again at the weekend. Every night I have a shower before bed but I feel creepies sometimes even afterwards, I cant be washing my hair every night and every stitch I have on goes in the wash, I have more laundry now than when my kids were at home. Cuddling the hens isn't a problem for me it's not cuddling that is! Like CattinJ says - any ideas please? Sorry it's so lengthy - again. x