D.E. Questions

[2boxers]

I was told my the cool lady at TSC that our locally owned farm supply place sells DE. Before I go in there & make a complete fool of myself, I wanted to make sure I know everything I need to know about DE.

First of all, I have been calling it DE because I can't seem to pronounce it. Can some one tell me how it's pronounced?

What is the difference between garden DE and food grade?

How expensive is it, generally speaking? How much does a bag or container of it cost?

One more question...can I dust my dogs in it? Will it help with ticks? We have dreadful ticks here this year & the Frontline "ain't hittin on nuthin"

 

[briana1975]

Just make sure it is FOOD GRADE. My local co-op said they had it too, but it wasn't food grade.

 

[sundance]

be sure its says FOOD GRADE on the bag. try google custom blend or Golden blend for a rep in your area. DO NOT USE POOL SUPPLY DE. and yes you can dust the dogs with it and cats to, not sure how to say it but its spelled Diatomaceous Earth marrie

 

[2boxers]

What is the difference between food grade and garden grade?

Die-uh-toe-may-shus Earth. Is that it? I found it on Wikipedia. (Pardon my southside phonics, by the way. I grew up in the land of Ward Burton.)

 

[kcfuerst]

Di-uh-toe-may-shus = Diatomacious

You can dust everything with it, the coop, your cats, dogs, garden and veggie plants. It even gets rid of parasites in people when taken in the proper quantity mixed with whatever liquid you choose, although it tastes like dirt.

 

[JewellFarm]

You pronounce it like this

Di (as in die)
at
o
ma (as in may)
ce (as in see)
ous
Earth

Maybe that will help.

 

[2boxers]

Thank you all very much.

So it can be used orally as well as being used as a dust?

I'm leaving right now to go get some. D@mn the cost-it sounds very well worth the expense.

 

[Judy]

here's a good info page on it:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=1560-Food_Grade_DE

 

[purpletree23]

DE won't help with ticks. Their bodies are too hard. It is used as a preventative for mites and lice on chickens. If you already have mites and lice you have to use a chemical such as Sevin powder. I could not find DE feed grade her in New Hampshire. I purchased it online from a great company called Earth Works Health. earthworkshealth. The total amount I purchased was 10 pounds. The product came in 4 plastic jugs. You can buy more or less if you want. The total for the DE was $23.00 and the shipping was $14.63. The plastic jugs are great! Humidity and water proof not like the paper bags the DE usually comes in.

I'll try to help you pronounce it.

die-a-tea-may-shous earth

You are better ordering it on line. No one knows what you are talking about and it gets frustrating. It took a while for me to find it on line. If you still want to go to the store at least save yourself some time and call ahead.

We have ticks really bad also. Do you let your chickens free range? I think our girls have knocked down the population a bit.

Have a great weekend!

 

[cthrash1]

You can also sprinkle it on/in your chickens and pets food for parasite prevention about once a month. I only have 4 ladies(Just started back in June) now but when I had my whole flock I would powder it all over the coop and run and on the chickens tush and under wings... in the top knots of the silkies and Spitzhauben. A fellow BYC friend brought me a poufer thing that kinda blows the DE out through a smallish point at the end and I used it on the chickens and in the corners or tight spots, but now I use a coffee can with holes poked all over the lid to sprinkle it around. and just grab some in my hand to apply to the bird. Make sure you get it down to the skin too or it isn't as effective.