DE and Flies... Just don't breath it in! Like I did...

[fours2many]

I bought some DE to spread in the coop for fly control.

I was carrying the container (large Tupperware w/lid). I had a mask, just had it around my neck, not over my mouth and nose. I was planning on putting it on correctly when I got ready to sprinkle. Well, the chickens and ducks thought I had food and surrounded my. I tripped, the DE flew from my hands. The animals ran. I stupidly tried to catch the falling container and instead, the lid popped off. I got covered with DE. Of course, I inhaled some.

My throat is very scratchy now. I showered, washed my clothes, but this scratchy, irritated throat is getting to me. I keep coughing, but nothing is coming up.

I guess I needed to vent, but I also want to warn everyone. It is best to wear your mask from the time you go near the stuff, until you are back away from it.

 

[Debob]

yep, lesson learned. nuff said.

 

[ChksontheRun]

So sorry about the trip, I hate it when stuff like that happens. Make sure you drink plenty of liquids, and realize the cough might last a while. Use throat lozengers to sooth so you dont just cough and cough and cough because of irritation.

 

[oldchickenlady]

Did the bag have any warnings on it about inhalation exposure? I would definitely check that out and make sure a trip to the doctor isn't needed. I plan on purchasing some next week if I can find it. I will learn from your accident!

 

[ZepChick]

Hi guys ~ we used to use DE all the time until this happened to us. It can be extremely dangerous to use this product without a mask....our old bag says to use a N95 PAPR respirator, which is a mask used on my TB patients at work. Anyway, there is a warning on our bag, but we decided (since all the chickens' nostrils turned white) that it wasn't worth it. It also depends on the silica content of your product.

 

[fours2many]

Thanks!

I still feel like there is little scratchy things in my throat. Like tiny glass shards! I am trying not to cough continually, but it is really difficult.

I wish I would have had the darn mask on. I don't think I will die or anything, I just have this irritation that won't go away. From now on, I will never go near the stuff without a mask. I might not use it anymore. Depends if it works for the flies. So far, there is no difference. Flies are everywhere. I clean the poop every day, adding more pine too. Oh well...Cough, cough...

 

[Lofty Dreams]

For the Future face mask

 

[Swampwood]

I thought DE was just for ground insects, never heard of it working for flyers.

 

[calista]

Quote:
I was told D.E. keeps fly larvae from developing in manure, noticeably reducing the fly population at that part in their life cycle.

 

[dawg53]

fours2many. I'm having the same fly problem as you. It might be because of the very cold winter we had, I dont know. I put down DE in the pen the other day and it's having little effect on the flies, there must be a zillion of them. I had the same thing happen several years ago and I remember using my sprayer with clorox and water mixture with a fine spray nozzle tip to spray the ground and the flies. I had to do it for about a week as I recall, but the fly population dwindled down considerably. I also had the pen secured so the chickens couldnt get in there while I was spraying. I let them in later in the afternoon after I raked the pen out. I hope your throat gets to feeling better, cough drops should help, maybe some cloraseptic(sp) spray.