DE and dust

[patandchickens]

DE is not at all an intrinsic part of "the" deep litter method. (There really is no "the" - there's a whole range of different ways of doing things, each with their unique benefits and disadvantages).

Dust, especially mineral dust which includes food-grade DE, is not good for the respiratory system, not for mammals nor birds. While a coop is unavoidably going to be a bit dustier than, like, your living room, you still need to do everything practical to keep the dust levels down. WHich includes not whooshing DE around like mad or in unreasonable, dust-causing quantities.

YOu do not need DE to combat smells or dampness or flies if you have adequate ventilation and sanitation.

And I know of no reason to believe that lots of DE is any more effective as a mite/lice preventative than just a *little*, strategically-deployed DE (which, itself, is not *proven* to do any good as a parasite preventative -- although it does seem to me like it helps, thus I do use it in that way myself)

Pat

 

[gjoyner]

I thought that you need somthing for the deep litter method to keep things from smelling...and you mix it around and than clean it out every two years. This deep litter method thing is bloody confusing. I wish I could figure out how to do this deep litter method. Im so confused. I need a step buy step of what to do.

 

[Zahboo]

Instead of DE could you try stall dri? Its similar but I think you can get it in pellet form. I heard its not as dusty. Research it first, I've been looking a LITTLE bit into it, but no one local sells it

 

[gjoyner]

I thought stall dry was bad for the chickens and food grade DE was good. I could be mis informed.

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

If you have enough "litter" as in pine shavings or straw, you wont HAVE a moisture problem.

If you have odors, you can put down pellitized lime .
(NOT HYDRATED LIME)

DE is said to have many uses, but reality is, its powdered rock and doesnt really do a lot of the things those trying to SELL it will tell you it's capable of.

There's nothing really complicated about "deep litter"

Put down 6-8 inches of pine shavings, and when you start to smell a bad odor, PUT DOWN MORE!!

LOL!

 

[patandchickens]

Quote:
No, you prevent smell by a) GOOD VENTILATION and b) adding more new litter as needed. (A droppings board, cleaned daily, and a not-overcrowded coop helps a lot, too). And 'two years' is optimistic - you'll be able to go that long in some cases but not others, it really depends.

This deep litter method thing is bloody confusing. I wish I could figure out how to do this deep litter method. Im so confused.

The thing people need to realize is that there is no such thing as "the" deep litter method. There is a whole constellation of things one can do that involve a deep litter pack; but they are all different, have different pros and cons, and are differently-appropriate for each person's unique situation.

Look, it is really not rocket science, all you have to do is use common sense

When things start to smell, see if you can find ways to reduce the amount of droppings going into the litter. When you've done the best you can there, see what you can do to greatly increase ventilation. When you can do no more *there*, remove any especially pooey patches and add fresh bedding to mix into the whole coop. When even THAT does not enough good, it is time to clean out the coop.

That's it. That's all there is to make it work.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat​

 

[SimplyForties]

Quote:
Well, then they sure have a lot of satisfied customers who are experienced chicken raisers on this board fooled!

 

[CallyB57]

I do not sell DE and I don't personally know anyone who sells DE. I buy and use food grade DE for many purposes. My dog had mites - the microscopic kind. He had swelled up, scabby paws, raw ears, etc., no sign of a mite, though, as they lived under the skin. I also picked up mites from him - was miserable for 6 months, then I read about DE. I ordered some food grade DE that is like a fine white powder and started dusting my poodle, myself, my bed, my carpet, my furniture. It took care of every bug in my house, as well as the mites and I would not be without it for bugs. If you want to see it in action, find an old piece of wood, or a rotten stump and pry up to find termites. Sprinkle some DE on the termites (you can also use the food grade 'Red Lake' DE out of Canada.) Watch the termites, and you will become a believer. When people or animals pick up mites of any kind, but especially the ones that live under the skin and surface at night to mate, the use of DE will kill them, but it is slow, as mites have a cycle and must come to the surface of the skin to come into contact with the dust. It takes about 5-6 months to be rid of this parasite, but I am 100% sure it works. If anyone else has had successful results by using DE, please post them.

 

[TrixiePA]

I love DE. I've used it on my cats/dogs food for a while as an internal wormer. The dogs get regular monthly wormers too but the cats don't anymore. They've been worm free since I started using them (8 months and counting). Course they are mostly indoor so maybe they just haven't had the opp to pick any up.

I sprinkle in cracks and crevices in the garage and workshop and it ended my ant problem.

But on the deep litter thing again, Stalosan F? Does anyone use it? Can I get it in the US? I read a Practical Poultry article that made it sound like a Godsend... but have never seen it in the store.

Thanks. T

 

[gjoyner]

Whats a droppings board? I'm sorry you guys...I'm new at this and just want to do all this right so I dont hurt the chicks, I know I probably sounds stupid to you guys.