D.E. Question

[Missbehavin]

Hi, I was wondering if 1. This was the safe stuff for my chicks, and 2. Is it safe to sprinkle a little in the chicks brooder. They are just 3wks old with pine shavings for the floor.
Thanks

 

[Kevin565]

It appears to be food grade so I would think it would be fine.

 

[CluckyCharms]

You have Red Lake Earth containing volcanic ash - not pure food grade DE, but it is still food grade. There are a lot of people here on the forum who use it and have used it for years without any issues at all...they love it. Unfortunately, there are (some) forum members here who ended up with sick animals, dead animals, and reduced egg-laying after using it. Granted ---- those sicknesses and deaths could have been coincidences and unrelated to the RLE given.

Here are some more threads regarding RLE (the kind you have)
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/10981/is-red-lake-earth-right-de/20
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/304333/red-lake-earth-rle-or-de

Pure DE versus RLE seems to come with a host of controversy (as both are food grade), so I won't get involved (I'm too new to chickens to know much about what I'm talking about)

But..that being said...I'm sticking with pure food grade DE by Perma-Guard to play it safe.

 

[Choco Maran]

I have used DE for years with all my animals. Cats, dogs, horses, and chicken I myself use it daily. It works great. I place a small amount right in the feed, I dust the area where they sun bath and sprinkle it directly on them. The biggest thing you have to watch for is that it say FOOD GRADE on the packageing. There are a few different kinds for pool filters and gardening. Double check it say s food grade. I'm a little concerned because it say "food chemical --------grade" all the stuff I get just says FOOD GRADE. other wise it is perfectly safe to use on chickens. It is completely natural and can not hurt them. DE food grade can be ingusted and works as a natural pest control. provents worms, lice, ticks, mites or what ever else then can get.

 

[DMRippy]

Why do you want to use it with chicks? I use DE in the feed of older birds, just think it is a good idea myself, but never thought about using it with 3 week old chicks. Mine are in a brooder and don't need pest control... Mine just says Food Grade.

 

[Missbehavin]

So what brand does everyone use? Where do you get it or can I just order on-line. I am just trying to be proactive. My chicks are mainly in the brooder but I do let them out to run around in the yard and catch bugs.

 

[CluckyCharms]

I do (almost) all of our chicken-supply shopping online, simply because of the fact that there aren't many stores in this town (if any) that stock what is needed. I don't think I've ever seen any backyards in this city with chickens in it. lol

http://www.mypetchicken.com/catalog/Chicken-Health/Diatomaceous-Earth-Food-Grade-p147.aspx

 

[Missbehavin]

Thanks, will order soon