Adding DE to chickens feed?

[briana1975]

I just got my order of food grade DE. It says to add 2%. to the dry weight of the feed? What does that mean? I buy 50lbs bags of feed. I have 2 feeders. 1 is 3lbs and the other is 1 lb feeder. So how much should I add. Math was not my strong subject in school. Also my chickens are 6 weeks old and the turkeys are 8 weeks. Is this to young to start adding the DE? For the bedding just sprinkle it like salt or cover the top then mix in? Sorry about all the questions just trying to get it all right. Thanks for any advice.

 

[NotTheMomma]

Years and years ago, Math was a strong point for me. NOT NOW!

Ok 50lbs of feed.
10% of that would be 5 lbs.

5% would then be 2.5 lbs.

2.5% would then be 1.25 lbs.

Does that help any?

 

[MoodyChicken]

2% DE to 50 lbs of feed is 1 lb of DE. Simply multiply 0.02 X 50 = 1 Mix it in a well ventilated area and mix thoroughly throughout the feed. Be sure not to create dust when moving the feed as the DE is dangerous when inhaled and can hurt the lungs.

 

[briana1975]

Thanks for the help with the math. Will it be ok to give it to my chickens now or should I wait till they are older?

 

[MoodyChicken]

You could... but DE is also a calcium source so be careful feeding it to young chicks.

 

[Sparklee]

Mine are doing okay (or seem to be) on 1% Food Grade DE in their feed and they are 3 weeks old. They've been getting it since day 2 or 3.

1% is 4 oz. (by weight as opposed to fluid oz.) to each 25 lbs. of feed I mix up. I have to use a scale to get it all correct. I bought it at Target. There's 16 oz by weight in a pound. 1 pound is 1% of 100 pounds. So 16 ounces for 100 pounds. 8 oz for 50 pounds at 1%. About 1 1/2 ounces for 10 pounds of feed at 1%. Right about four 4 1/2 (4.5) ounces by weight for 30 pounds if you want 1%.

And it's dusty when I mix it. I was using 2%, but it was just too dusty.

I have good luck saying "per one hundred" whenever I see the word "percent." So 80% is 80 per one hundred. Not sure if that helps, but that's my math trick. "Cent" is a Latin root for 100. You know, like century being 100 years. There are 100 cents in a dollar. Centennial, centurion, etc.

 

[briana1975]

Quote:
I did read this somewhere about the calcium. That was why I wondered if my chicks were to young to start it in their feed.

 

[Andora]

I just take a small handful and coat the food with it. It's always worked fine that way! Sometimes if I'm not putting in it in the food, I give them DE treats once a week with a little DE shaken onto some defrosting frozen corn. They LOVE that.

I've found using DE really cuts down on flies on their poop!