which is more effective? dusting or dipping

[kalapati]

yesterday while watching my birds at the aviary, i noticed a fly came out from one of the birds wing feathers and started moonwalk dancing...lol. it makes me thinking now is borax on bath water really effective?
when you guys use permethrin, which one gives better result - dusting or dipping?
since flies seems hard to eradicate completely i suspect my birds may be infected with malaria (spread by pigeon flies) and some sites: (http://www.pigeoncote.com/vet/formulary/formulary.html) suggest using atabrine (quinacrine) before racing. have you guys used this before?



kalapati
San Diego
http://bluebarloft.from-ca.com:81/Jview.htm

[pigeonnewb]

When I started using permethrin, I sprayed them. But I noticed I was unconsistant. Some birds got sprayed more than others. Since then I started dunking them in a one gallon bucket (with the head out) LOL! It was more effective and I only had to dunk them once some of them twice but that was it. With all this said, this was what I did only. I know many people have many different way.

[TerriB]

I feel you get more complete coverage with dipping (hold bird in one hand and their head clear of the dip with the other). I've used powder when it's too cold or late in the day for them to be wet.

[Big T]

I dip the birds then put the rest in a sprayer and spray the loft and under the loft. Do it once in the spring and then again is late summer. Winter is usually no problem.

Tony

[ohiogsp]

I spray mine with permathrin spray but I think baths a least once a week is the best I hardly ever have to spray mine.

[Barn Pigeon]

I think that dipping is best. That's the way I go.