Bedding - Pro’s & Cons

[Hoytman]

The product below is 100% full strength Diatomaceous Earth and CAN be mixed with water.

http://stgabrielorganics.com/product/insect-dust-diatomaceous-earth … located under the garden center tab.

If you look at the link above...that is the product I was referring to. However, I could not get their "additional information" tab to pop up...but I knew I wasn't dreaming that I had read on the back of the bag that it can be mixed with water. So...

...Just called them … 800-801-0061 … and asked them...

… and the lady said, "the back of that bag says can be mixed with 1lb. of powder to 1 gallon of water".

She did express that she worried that it would clog some sprayers if the spray nozzle openings aren't big enough. She also said it was hard to actually "mix" with water...that is to get the product "into" the water "since it really doesn't absorb water". A direct quote from her...that sounded more like an opinion rather than fact based, which I have no way of confirming unless I go higher up.

To me, that means if you continue to shake the product often when spraying, then when the water evaporates it should perform as if put on in a dry form. I asked the lady about my thoughts, and she did say "there would be no detrimental effect of spraying the product on so long as your sprayer didn't clog".

Now, I'm sure she was just a lady that answers the phone. The reason I know this is because she had to put me on hold to get answers to my questions. That being said, if it doesn't work after getting wet, or if it shouldn't be attempted to use from a liquid sprayer, then by all means the directions to mix with water should NOT be placed on the label. Period! My guess is; they put "wet application directions" on the label of the product because it can indeed be used in such manner.

Also, I would think...
Regardless of what similar DE packaged products by St. Gabriel Laboratories say … that is whether or not other packages do or do not mention "wet application" directions... that I would submit that DE is DE...and wet application would still apply. Unless … wait for it … it is mixed with another product like kaolin clay, bentonite, or calcium, etc., then wet application may not apply.

The product I linked to was is 100% full strength Diatomaceous Earth and CAN be mixed with water.

EDIT:
As I stated, I have not used a sprayer to apply this product, but I have sprinkled it heavily in a band around the foundation of my house. Having done that, even after blowing rain, once dried after the rain, the product still seemed to work flawlessly. I am certain that over time, with additional wind and rain, that the product dissipated and reapplication would be necessary.

Given the experience I just wrote about above, seeing no ill effects from rain in the garden, after having read the label on the linked product above, and after placing a phone call to the company, I feel 100% confident the product can be wet applied with zero detrimental effects since it was explained to me that it actually will not absorb the water. That tells me each tiny dust particle only gets wet on the outside, not the inside, and explains why it can still grind insects to certain death.

The only thing that seems uncertain, and time and experience on my own will make up my mind, is this; Does it work on mites? I'd say it will if enough of the product is used.

 

[paneubert]

Who knows. The same bag you link to from their official site is the same product on Amazon. It only talks about dry. I am sure they said what they said, but it makes me wonder if it is an "off label" application of their product. Literally off label in this case. Haha. I think the mystery will never be solved.

Just to be clear, I totally believe the stuff slices and dices right from the bag and that it regains its "cutting" action after it dries out. No debate there. I bet it works 100% the same after drying as it did before becoming wet. Hence why people like @aart saw it work in a bag of dry grain. My beef is with folks who think it works while wet. That's all.

 

[Hoytman]

I understand what you're seeing. Have no issue with that. Your research is leading you in one direction while mine has me going in another direction. I'm sure that is more fault of the company in labeling than it is us misunderstanding one another.

I can only tell you what my bag says AND what the lady told me over the phone.

However, let's not forget that little bit of experience I mentioned using said product in a band around my house. If it didn't work after getting I would have no reason not to include that in my experiences as well. Keep in mind, that band of product was in a thick layer and would likely NOT be sprayed on that heavily. LOL! That was before I was given a dustin'-mizer.

The only thing anyone can do for themselves is to try spraying it. I know I will.

EDIT:
Misread some of what you stated. Sorry.

 

[Hoytman]

Who knows. The same bag you link to from their official site is the same product on Amazon. It only talks about dry. I am sure they said what they said, but it makes me wonder if it is an "off label" application of their product. Literally off label in this case. Haha. I think the mystery will never be solved.

Just to be clear, I totally believe the stuff slices and dices right from the bag and that it regains its "cutting" action after it dries out. No debate there. I bet it works 100% the same after drying as it did before becoming wet. Hence why people like @aart saw it work in a bag of dry grain. My beef is with folks who think it works while wet. That's all.

I would totally agree...100%.
I too highly doubt it would work when wet. It has to dry.

I am interested to see how it sprays though. Sure will make application much more safe for us and the birds.

 

[Rein Quest]

I get what your seeing and I’d bet that lady is corect about being hard to mix with water. What I read about DE it’s just like sand but fossil instead of typical rock.

What I find interesting is how it’s suposed to “cut”. As in damage the outer layer of insects causing them to dry out and die. If it really works that way I’d expect that means it’s useless if you just dump it on the floor or blow it in a crack/crevis. When it becomes still it should be as inert as sand.

So to work it seems you’d have to be applying it directly to the bugs as you see them.

This is just an observation so I’m probably incorrect but might be worth trying. I don’t know that I have any issues right now. I had just been trying to research bedding.

 

[Pak Rat]

Hello!

As far as DE goes, boy did this topic go into detail! I use it in my home to kill fleas, as I live in a flea-heavy area, and it works great (amazingly great), but it's very very dusty, so in enclosed spaces it can create respiratory issues and other inconveniences. Providing it full-strength as an outdoor dustbath is a perfect way to control mites in your flock, but mixing it with bedding, I can see how it would produce mixed results and reviews.

On the topic of bedding, I use sawdust procured in bulk for free from a local lumber mill. I find it very absorbent, soft and easy to handle. I was using wood chips but this method proved superior for me. I would however advise against cedar because the oils can be harmful (I say this because cedar is very common in my area).

 

[Shadrach]

I’m not sure this is the correct place but maybe it falls into maintenance?

So I’m not looking for the “best bedding” but I was struggling with a search for pros and cons for different bedding materials. I’m mostly curious because I’d like to use anything non-toxic that becomes seasonally available. For instance the corn stalks from the garden.

Quick note before I begin I heard there was something you can treat bedding with to lesson mite infestation chances. I don’t recall the name well enough to spell, D____ Earth. Where do you find this?

So moving on these are materials I know of. Please add any missing or comments of pro/con that you know.

-Pine chips
-Corn chaff (dried chopped stalks)
-Hemp
-Straw
_*Home for mites
_*Possible crop issues
-Grass clippings
_*Posted by others but my chickens eat them
-Shreaded Paper
-Hays
_*more of a food
_*Home for mites
_*Possible crop issues

Do your chickens sleep on the floor, or do they sleep on roost bars?
If they do sleep on roost bars why do you want to put bedding on the floor?

 

[Ms Chicory]

I buy my DE at a local Amish organic feed and grain store, it is food grade, 50 lbs and around $20. We bag it up (outside because of the dust) into gallon ziplock bags to share with family and friends. Useful to treat for worms and fleas, also garden pests.

 

[quackingdom]

Has no one brought up rice hulls/rice husks as a possible bedding?

I use them and I love them. They don't smell much, dry quickly, are easy to store, east to put in the coop and clean out, and are good for composting. I can't really think of any cons except that they do get kicked around a lot. Our chickens have before kicked so much rice hulls into their waterer that they clogged it up. That could be solved with a wire platform for the water, though.

The only real problem, I think, is that in some areas they may be difficult or impossible to find. We're lucky that there's a rice processing plant just a few miles away, where we can get a large trash bag of rice hulls for just 25c US per bag. So, if you can find rice hulls where you live, I think they are a great option.

 

[aart]

If they do sleep on roost bars why do you want to put bedding on the floor?

To 'dry out' the poops....and balance with carbon for 'composting'.

Has no one brought up rice hulls/rice husks as a possible bedding?

It does come up, and I think it was mentioned in this thread, but it is hard to come by.
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