Sevin dust.

[brent]

Hi everyone,
Getting ready to apply my first sevin dust soon. Can someone review how much to apply and how often? Last year I put some at the end of February under the pre nest material and then again when I saw nest building. I used about 1/8 teaspoon around the periphery of the nest tray. I had no problems with mites. Just want to make sure it's the normal approach. All my trays are up and have the nest trays filled with pine needles. I have one early ASY but I expect more soon. Let me know your thoughts.
Brent

[Conrad Baker]

Your application is similar to what I do. I liberally apply it to all corners of the compartments when I first start the season. I also sprinkle some into the pine needles after I put them into the compartment. After the birds build their nest (before egg laying), I reapply. I apply about every two weeks after the eggs are laid, but very lightly especially when babies are present (only in the compartment corners and floor).

Just remember it's not a "one and done" thing. It does have to be reapplied several times over the season. I have read if it gets wet or damp, it loses it's effectiveness, so has to be reapplied often.

[sugarcreek]

Here is what i use, you can fill with 7 dust and shoot it in right under the nest when you have babies....Just a little squirt, wont bother the babies , i have no nest mite or bug problems

Southern Homewares Pesticide Diatomaceous Earth Hand Bellows Powder Duster - Garden Powder Bulb Applicator - Great Against Bedbugs & Insects

Buy it off Amazon

[D. Doll MN]

Just remember what works for one colony may not work on the next colony. And a lot has to do where you live, My colony is in Central MN and my colony dose not get the Blow flys problems like some get in souther parts of our state. As far as Sevin dust I have used it some times if things get real bad, but only under nest trays or under the pine needles, in corners only. But what I and some other in MN are doing is changing out the nest materials when the young chicks are at 9-12 days old. That doesn't matter if the nest look perfectly ok or not. And unless you get a big rain storm right away and the needles get wet again you don't end up with any problems the remaing season.

[Spiderman]

Your doing it right, just make sure it is 5% Sevin dust.

I add it with the nesting material and again when the eggs start hatching. Here in the South it is mostly mites and you can see them on the white gourds. A 1/4 of a teaspoon will kill them over night.