I was surprised too when the gray food-grade DE turned up here, and the manager of our feed store was sincere when he told me he had been advised that the gray could be used with chickens. I suppose if in feed only, but as bird owners we use it mainly to help with mites and other ectoparasites. When I told him what had happened to my birds' feathers he was embarrassed. Imagine if you had a show in a few days and couldn't get the Aussie clean or if the feathers had been damaged. He followed up with our feed mill's district office and so did I and the ordering manager promised that Co-Op Atlantic would always keep some white food-grade DE in stock. Larger stores might have it all the time and the smaller ones could order it in on the weekly truck. Good to their word, I got my yearly supply recently. Good thing too, I'm cleaning out a coop in the barn and we are making a third WIR for (wait for it)...exhibition line Australorps from Connecticut. More to follow (heh).
Last edited: