Diatomatious Earth and Dust Baths...

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kaylaC6500

kaylaC6500

In the Brooder
6 Years
Feb 3, 2013
61
0
39
Fountain, Colorado
I went into BigR today to ask if they had Diatomatious Earth. I have read in a couple of books and post on this site that you mix wood ash, sand and or diatomatious earth for the chickens dust bath. My chickens are a few weeks old but already they are bathing themselves in the wood shavings. I wasn't going to get the bath together for them right now but I am working on their coop. In any case when I asked the sales man at BigR about the diatomatious earth and what I am going to use it for it looked at me like I had lobsters coming out of my ears...'I have never heard of that before!' in a stern voice was his reply.
Wondering if perhaps I was wrong about what I read or is he not up on his chicken care?
 
Funny reaction. DE is very good for dust bathing. The mix you mentioned is great. Just for the record you could also use PLAIN OL DIRT. Bathing keeps them clean looking and feathers shiny. The may even eat some of it, so be sure it is food grade DE. I have chickens and quail alike that love bathing in it. When they shake all that white powder out of their feathers is puffs away like a disappearing cloud.
 
I got my Diatomacious Earth from Del's feed and farm supply, It's only four pounds and its for livestock. Including Chickens, they are the front cover.
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If your chickens are like mine, they will make their own dirt bath spots whereever they can. We have afew spots next to the foundation of the house, another in the middle of the yard...not sure why that one got started! We take the DE and sprinkle some in the spots they go to occassionally. It will say Food Grade at a promient spot on the label so just read it. I found it at our local small feed store and even Tractor Supply has it. You can use it for lots of things including other animals for worming and stuff. Also some commercial organic feeds actually put it in with the feed, which is cool too.
 
Thank you so much for all of the information. I wanted to have something on hand and using Diatomaceous Earth in their dusting areas will be a big help. I was on YouTube watching different videos about ridding chickens of mites & lice. Don't have them but wanted to be prepared. I would be afraid to use the chemicals some advise. Sorry but if you have to toss your eggs for 5 days, how healthy can it be. Again, Thank you
 

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