Bad DE, bad!

[Skamaghetten]

This is my first post on BYC, as I have just started raising my flock and I need to learning a lot. My question concerns the health of my chickens in a round about way. It's summer time, which means hot temps and swimming. My pool's filter is the kind that takes Diatomaceous Earth (DE), the bad kind. When we back wash our pool or clean the filter the toxic DE goes in the yard, where my family plays, especially my newest editions. I found that my feed store actually sells the food grade DE, but it's in the 50lb bags. I don't need that much for keeping a deep litter coop and worming my chickens. Does anyone know if you can use FOOD GRADE DE in the pool filter, thus eliminating the toxic chemical being ingested my chickens?

 

[crtrlovr]

Good question! I'm guessing that the food grade is a bit more powdery than the pool grade -- anyone know for sure? We use a sand filter, but I'm still interested in hearing the answer for this...

ETA: and WELCOME! You're gonna love it here!

 

[Judy]

I'd grab up that 50 lb. bag in a heartbeat. It may last you a year, but it stores just fine.

Have no idea about using it for the pool. Don't have a pool. Never thought if it. Hope someone knows. Subscribing....

 

[Judy]

Oh, I forgot...

 

[SpringChickens]

I believe the difference between food grade and chemical grade is how refined and sorted it is. I can't imagine that it would hurt.... but I'm not an expert!

 

[NancyDz]

Both swimming pool grade and natural diatomaceous earth come from the same fossil sources, but they are processed differently. The natural grades (food grade) are mined, dried, ground, sifted and bagged. The pool grade is chemically treated and partially melted and consequently contains crystalline silica which can be a respiratory hazard. So I doubt they would be interchangeable. Also it would be soooo expensive to use food grade in your pool.


I would look into switching your pool filter to a saline filter... it's expensive but much more efficient and non chemical.... it also makes your hair and skin so soft.


Nancy

 

[Skamaghetten]

Thanks for all the quick responses all. RE Nancydz, I thought that food grade would be expensive too, but at my local feed store it was less then $30 for the 50lb bag. The pool grade DE was a little more then $15 for a 25lb bag. I was rather surprised. I think the best solution to this question may require an experiment If it doesn't work, then I'll have some extra DE for the MD area.

 

[Big C]

We own a Nursery and Garden Center. We specialize in promoting organic solutions and have for the almost 20 years we have been in business.
Last week I placed our usual order and included a regular order of food grade DE, (have been doing this for years) using a manufacturer Carl Pool. This company specializes in "organic" alternatives to our weekly supplier.
I ordered 2 bags of food grade de and they were not delivered. I called my salesman and asked the general q "out of stock" if so just back order it and ship when you get it.
He told me that ALL labeled "food/feed grade DE had been discontinued on orders from the EPA. Even all my prior orders of food/feed grade DE were removed from my 20 year history of purchases.
I called the manufacturer that supplies them and talked to their company spokesperson who forwarded me to the company spokes person related to their "organic" related products. asked him why the product was pulled from ordering. He referred me to upcoming legislation HR875 and under review EPA regulations concerning anything labeled "organic" "food" "feed" grade and legislation under review. The current product that they will/are supplying will not contain any of the above phrases. This person would not even tell me if the product was the same, other that that they just package what is shipped to them as "DE" that I used to purchase at wholesale to supply my cutomers and us.

If you as an end user are concerned at all on the use of DE for your flock(s) you should voice your opinion to your congressional representative. I called ours today again and he is fully aware of hr875 and what it will mean to our area of Texas and the local Farming/Ranching community.
The EPA is already acting on future regulations as if they were current law.