Can somebody expain Diatomaceous Earth?

[sdm111]

One of the biggest gimmicks out there. Total Total waste of money.

 

[cinnamoncockatiel]

Wow, do they like them? I don't think mine would go for them but mine find Styrofoam a delightful treat so there's no accounting for taste in my chickens.

My parrot loves them the most! I mix pepper flakes with fruits veggies, grains, and seeds in a food processor. My chickens and ducks love styrofoam and paint..

 

[farout75]

So I'm confused about what diotomatious earth is. I know it prevents worms in chickens but not much else.
Here is my list of questions:

• How do you feed it to the chickens?
• At what age to you feed it to them?
• How much are you supposed to feed them?
• Is it safe to eat the eggs while you are giving them diotomatious earth?

Thanks!

We have it in a 14" circular 6" deep pan. They "dirt bathe" in it. The D Earth is about 4" deep. They like twisting and taking their bath in it. None of the 21 chickens have mites or other creepy things. We have been doing this for about 6 months now. The chickens are 1 year old now. Be careful to ware a mask as the D Earth is bad to breathe. Good luck and lots of eggs.

 

[roosterhavoc]

Does anyone ever wonder what kinds of particulates are in the cloud of dust the chickens kick up when dusting on the ground. There’s all sorts of things in there that are or could be harmful to a chickens respiratory system.
DE is great for gardening and does a great job of controlling larvae hatching in the top layers of soil. It’s unnecessary for chickens along with about 99% of everything else geared towards chicken people.

 

[ChickEngineer]

Could well be an "old wife tail", I mix a small amount in the nest boxes and the coop sand.

 

[Doctor L]

So I'm confused about what diotomatious earth is. I know it prevents worms in chickens but not much else.
Here is my list of questions:

• How do you feed it to the chickens?
• At what age to you feed it to them?
• How much are you supposed to feed them?
• Is it safe to eat the eggs while you are giving them diotomatious earth?

Thanks!

I knew there were opposing views on DE, but didn’t realize how passionate folks are about “their” view… So, I’ll address this as both, my personal view, and as a scientist… I’ve been using DE for well over 40 years and have never had any issues, and—It has always done what I expected it to do. However; it doesn’t do what some claim. It is not a dewormer, but it will destroy the eggs that worms lay, “preventing worms” in the first place. It does get rid of mites, fleas and their eggs. You’ll know you have mites/fleas when your chickens are more willing to sleep in the trees, or hesitant to go in their coop… Clean out the coop, “Completely”, then mop the floors, walls, roosts, boxes and “Everything” with a strong solution of water and contractors lime. Allow to dry, then fresh bedding. I use a “Fogger” (like what gardeners use for dusting roses), and use to distribute around the coop. DE will adhere to what it settles on, so it won’t make your coop “dusty”. Also, add about a cup to their dust bath and mix it in. When I fill their 3 gal. feeders, I sprinkle about 1/4 cup DE, maybe once per month. That’s about it for, how I use DE. I also used it once to nurse a dying cat, found in my garage, literally drawing her last breath, just skin and bones and infested with fleas ticks, etc. I fed her (added some DE, 1/4 tsp, to her food and gave her a box with a towel, dusted with DE, and rubbed (quite a bit) of some DE into her hair and matted fur. In under 48 hours, she was free of any fleas, etc… Turns out that she is a beautiful Black Maine-Coon cat, who is now, strictly an indoor cat, with “NO Desire” to go outside, ever…
Now to answer the, “What is DE?” DE is Diatomaceous Earth, or fossilized diatoms. They are mined from the earth and forged (baked) to dedicate them. They are “microscopic” this is important to understand, and if you looked at them under a microscope, they would look like crystals with sharp “razor-like” edges. They will “cut” through any organism with an exoskeleton, and since desiccated, will pull moisture from the organism… Sounds scary, right..? I guess that’s why so many object to its use. But keep in mind, this is on “a microscopic level”. These diatom fossils are so small, cutting a “soft-tissue cell” would be like trying to cut a mighty oak with your dads razor. It’s just too small and will bend and break. Soft tissue cells will just “give” or “move” out of the way… Like pushing your finger into a jar of marbles… Diatoms only work on microscopic organisms with an exoskeleton… As for breathing it, it’s just like any dust, and you would want to avoid breathing it because it’s dusty, just like any dust. It’s not going to cut or dehydrate your lungs any more than any other dust… So yes, wear protection, avoid breathing it, but not in fear of being exposed to something toxic. As for whoever said it causes cancer, I’d like to see the source and research on that… They are just mineralized fossils, and made in a “Food-Grade” for a reason. DE is sometimes used as a mineral supplement and used in food… And people food too, though why, I have no idea. If you use rock dust or mineral dust in your organic garden, your using DE… So to recap, I’ve used it regularly for over 40 years, it’s always done what I expect it to do (it’s not a magic cure all that can fix everything, so check your expectations), never had a negative reaction to any animal or myself, it’s organic and affordable, non-toxic, etc… Good Luck, +Blessings

 

[Rommy]

So I'm confused about what diotomatious earth is. I know it prevents worms in chickens but not much else.
Here is my list of questions:

• How do you feed it to the chickens?
• At what age to you feed it to them?
• How much are you supposed to feed them?
• Is it safe to eat the eggs while you are giving them diotomatious earth?

Thanks!

https://www.fresheggsdaily.blog/2014/11/all-about-diatomaceous-earth-in-your.html

 

[RoosterML]

I use ACV in my waterer (plastic) to prevent alagae growth but nothing else. Pepper flakes are treats for my parrot, chickens, and ducks but not for their health.

I really hope that’s not your only source of water for them.

 

[Shezadandy]

Ok so if I think one of my chickens has worms, I should separate the chicken and put her on a deformed? What are some symptoms of worms?

Treat everyone at the same time. In a flock/herd situation, if one has it, they've all got it. The value of treating with dewormer is to remove the adults and then 2nd dose to kill the hatching eggs. If you only treat one bird, someone else will restart that cycle almost immediately. Also keep in mind that all outdoor chickens will have some kind of parasite load and that it is perfectly normal for them to live with some worms.

 

[JBarnhart]

So I'm confused about what diotomatious earth is. I know it prevents worms in chickens but not much else.
Here is my list of questions:

• How do you feed it to the chickens?
• At what age to you feed it to them?
• How much are you supposed to feed them?
• Is it safe to eat the eggs while you are giving them diotomatious earth?

Thanks!

My understanding is that when parasites crawl into it it puts cuts or openings in the parasites shell or exoskeleton & then the bug dries out & dies. You sprinkle it in their food (food grade) & you can also sprinkle it in their dust bath & it keeps the mites from infesting them. Ive always used it & never had a parasites problem. Coincidence? Maybe, but thats all I know.