Using Diatamaceous Earth in chickens feed to keep lice, mites, and ticks away? - Page 2

Other than sand and straw the only other thing that I put in my net boxes is lime.

 

 

Chris

I've read lots on it. Wikipedia has some good, easy to understand, data along with references. Internal use seems controversial in both human and animals although it is cited in two papers on Wiki. I personally use is in the run for dust baths and in the coop under the nests. I think the main danger is inhalation.

Here what I found on DE.

Diatomaceous earth is 80 to 90% silica, with 2 to 4% alumina and 0.5 to 2% iron oxide 

 

Silica is  found in nature as/in sand and quartz and one of the "side affects" of silica dust is a disease called silicosis/potter rot.

Alumina/ aluminum oxide is used in the making of aluminum cans but the dust has a significant toxicity only following chronic inhalation. 

Iron Oxide is basically common rust.

 

 

Chris

can I use stove ash? I never thought of it, but I have a pellet stove, would that be ok? What about firepit ash? 

Ashes are fine, I would bet it a lot heather than DE. 

 

Chris

 DE is a very good absorbent, just think what that does to the animal that has that in/on there food.

There are people on here that talk about about how there chicken poop is less runny when there chicken are on the DE, Hmmmm wounder why,   could it be that DE is a absorbent and by putting DE in your poultry/ animal's feed that you are causing them to be slightly dehydrated or even worse overly dehydrated? 

 

 

Chris

I know for a fact t does work internally as a wormer (at least in dogs and cats) my dog had been wormed traditionally about a month or so before and I gave him a week of de in his food... He passed a mass of assorted worms. Every time I give him a round he passes some. I don't give it constantly. Usually a few days every month or two. As to fleas it helps but I found (and will admit now I sell) a product for that that is all natural and WORKS. But my vets and many of my agility friends with performance dogs also use it and say the same thing happens with their dogs.

Chris09,

 

Doesn't lime carry with it similar respiratory risks?

 

Also, based on my limited understanding of DE, the chemical breakdown you listed above is a little misleading. It sounds like it is silica, alumina and iron oxide as individual components that make up the DE powder. However, as I understand it,l DE powder is crushed diatoms and therefore the silica, alumina, and iron oxide are all contained together within the tiny bits of diatom shell that make up the powder. Therefore, the health risks of each of them as individual substances don't necessarily apply.

 

I am brand new to chickens but not to chemistry and it seems like the potential health effects from DE are being overstated, and furthermore not relatively compared to the alternatives, e.g. Sevin dust.

 

I have some DE that I am planning on putting to use on a limited basis. I am not planning on mixing it into the feed as wormer, though I am considering mixing it into the feed if I find I have a problem with insects in the feed. I also plan on mixing it lightly into my hens preferred dust bathing locale once in awhile as a lice and mite preventative.

 

I would be very interested in more evidence, anecdotal or otherwise, regarding use of DE as a wormer.

"Doesn't lime carry with it similar respiratory risks"

Depends on the type of lime.

 

"DE powder is crushed diatoms and therefore the silica, alumina, and iron oxide are all contained together within the tiny bits of diatom shell that make up the powder" Yes they say there is to be some diatoms (hard shell algae)  but they don't state the amount. 

 

"Therefore, the health risks of each of them as individual substances don't necessarily apply."

If that is what you believe that is fine with me.

 

Chris