The Official Forum of the Ameraucana Breeders Club > Housing, Health & Hatching

Lice and Mites

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DeWayne Edgin:
I was told today that ashes from a wood stove are good to put in chicken pens to get rid of mites and lice. Has anyone else ever heard of this before? I am wondering if it is true and if anyone else uses them? Thanks.

Don:
Ashes are typically very alkaline, and can be used in the garden to raise the ph of the soil.  (The Charcoal from the ashes is used in some gardening methods, thought to extend soil nutrients)  The ashes also should have some effect on odors like the post on lime mentioned sometime back.  I have seen wild birds dusting in the ashes of our fire pit.  My guess is they could make the coop very dusty if you use lots. I'm not sure if the high ph could hurt the skin on the birds.  Why not try a test dust box in one of the pens mixing the ashes and dry sand.  It's worth a try.  See if it makes a difference on the birds in that pen first.   

The pigeon folks have been using tobacco stems in their lofts/nests for many years to repel insects too.  I expect there are other plants that might help in this same way. 

Good luck, and let us know how it works.

DeWayne Edgin:
Good idea Don, i think i will try it on my non breeding birds first.

Tailfeathers:
I'd recommend adding some Permaguard DE to the sand mixture.

Don:
Hey DeWayne,  Glad to see you on the forum, haven't seen you on for a while.

I wanted to bump this, I had been thinking about it for a while.  I have one pen where scale mites has been persistent.  Strangely I've seen it happen in the "yellow legged" Rocks/Leghorns here and not the Slate legs.

Did you give this a try and did it work for you?

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