First thing this morning I gave the coop its final spray with red mite spray. This is it’s third spray at three days intervals. At lunch time we felt it was dry enough to put the coop back together again. I then sprayed it with the another spray called “Total Mite Kill” which says that it offers protection for three months.
I barricaded the coop to stop the girls going in but to allow ventilation and then a few hours later I dusted the entire inside of the coop with D.E. using a paint brush. I then put in fresh pine shavings and a further puff of D.E. on the shavings.
The coop is now ready for the girls again and tonight will be their first night in the coop for two weeks.
Once all this was done I shut the main flock into part of the run while I let the chicks into the main flock’s side of the run. The girls were now each on the other side of the run. Today I left the chicks in the main flock’s side of the run for two hours to let them get to know this half of the run.
They were more confident than yesterday and immediately set about having a long and enjoyable dust bath.
Peaches and Barley in a dust bath
We tried to encourage them up to the patio area which is the area they are most reluctant to go to. They briefly went to the patio then flew back to more familiar territory but I think that at least they now know it is there and I am sure they will get braver in time.
I put the girls back on their usual sides again ready for the bedtime routine. I am going to take this very slowly but feel it’s good for the chicks to start getting used to the other side of the run. We will keep progressing a bit at a time.
Click here to see the history of my flock.