DE - Diatomaceous Earth

[bdp7150]

can Diatomaceous Earth be sprinked on top of pine shavings (that has been down a little while)while chickens are in run and then let them back in ?
reason for ,is it bad to breath the dust for the chickens

i have already put it down before i put the shavings down when the new shavings went in.

 

[sillybirds]

I periodically sprinkle it on top of the pine shavings. I don't think that's a problem. They're going to kick it up wherever you put it anyway when they go and scratch.

 

[aiwetir]

food grade DE is probably a LOT safer. the other stuff is way bad.

 

[chilisweet]

YOu can DE the shavings, DE their food, DE their run, DE their poo pile, DE their dust bath areas. Seriously Food grade DE you can do just about anything with. You can even whitewash the inside of their coop with DE to prevent bugs from living in the wood.

In fact if you want to keep the smell down, I would DE at least once a week inside the coop.

You can also add DE to your food (human food I'm talking). Ever eat biscuit mix..guess what's in it? Yup!

We also add DE to the cat's litter boxes, their food and hamster cages. It's amazing how much this stuff works.

Good luck!

~Caran

 

[Gazinga]

i too love DE! i use it in everthing! including my own orange juice! mmmmm

 

[SewingDiva]

DE does do a really good job of drying up poo. As for chickens breathing it in - well they seem to make enough of their own dust to begin with(which is one reason of many as to why they're not indoor pets) when they dust bathe and such, and it doesn't seem to affect them at all!

Phyllis

 

[NurseNettie]

Not to hijack this thread-- but do any of you mail order your DE?? If so, from where? We don't have a local source of food grade DE so I'm going to need to mail order. Thanks!

 

[homestead5er]

Try this http://www.earthworkshealth.com/

 

[firefighter9208]

Quote:
Try Custom Milling in Georgia. http://www.custommilling.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=24&Itemid=27 . They quoted me $24.95 + $15.00 for shipping for a 50# bag of food grade DE. Of course that's to Alabama. Might be a little more to ship to Maine.

Chris

 

[Dustoff79]

Quote:
Have you tried (if around your area) any of the organic nurserys or try:

Blue Seal Feeds
876 Stillwater Avenue
Bangor, ME
[email protected]

or

http://www.internet-grocer.net/diatome.htm

wolfcreekranch1.tripod.com/diatomaceous_earth.html

http://www.dirtworks.net/Diatomaceous-Earth.html#anchorfossilshellflour

http://www.custommilling.com/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1

http://www.mypetchicken.com/Health_and_ … -P147.aspx