allyourpoultryneeds:

Chicken bedding and nesting materials, also organic methods for lice and mite control 🙂

**My suggestions and favourites**

* pine shavings- absorbent, low dust, nice scent.

*hemp-reduces ammonia, foot pad dermatitis and reduces other diseases.

* alfalfa- great scent, high quality, hen and chicks can eat it. Great for digestion.

*lemon grass- repels flies, mosquitoes, and other flying insects.. also smells great.

**I sprinkle a bit of AG lime in the bottom of the nest boxes after I clean them. This works for me to help keep Odor down also it’s meant to prevent lice and mites**

** I don’t use hay or straw anymore because it can get mouldy and mites hide in the straw**

***Herbs I use for natural lice and mite control.. ***

* lavender- relaxing, calming, great for lice and mite control. Natural Insect repellent.

*eucalyptus leaves- natural insect repellent

*peppermint- Insect repellent and anti parasitic

*marigold petals- Insect repellent, also great for pain relief and insect bites. Great for yeast infections and also egg colour and health.

*spearmint- great for sinus, relaxes and calms the chicken when laying or brooding.

*catnip- insecticide also great for worms in chickens. Contains many vitamins for chickens health.

* basil- repels insects, great anti bacterial and great for the eggs.

Please note: if your chickens actively have mites or lice, you need to get them a commercial treatment. Parasites can seriously harm or kill your birds. Remember that “natural” lives include dying of parasitic infections sometimes.

These are good preventative measures, don’t get me wrong, nothing wrong with using them. However, if a parasitic infestation gets established despite the herbs, you need to use something stronger before it kills your fluffbabies.