DE: Diatomceous Earth

[monsterkx500]

Where Can I find DE: Diatomceous Earth?

 

[Hoosierchickens]

Local feed store or online at Earthworks.com are two sources.

 

[acw123]

Got mine at the local Southern States store - don't know where you are or if you have them in your area - they are a feed and plant and animal supply store. $40 for a 50lb food grade bag. They usually only sell or stock the 6lb bag which was $15 but they were able to order the larger bag and I had it in about a week. Also you can do a search online and look on ebay as well. Be sure to get food or feed grade and NOT the kind for the pool. They are different.

 

[GiddyMoon]

You can also find it on ebay, usually hardware stores..and you can use Azure Standards...50 lb delivered for free for $17.50..but you have to have a minimum order off their entire site of at least $50 and a drop off site in your area..you can find them online.

I often found 25lb bags for about $9 at hardware stores. Just make sure it isn't pool grade..it needs to be food grade which is also called perma guard...do a search here and you will find many threads about it.

 

[audioguy]

Get mine at a local Co-Op. Make sure you get food grade or pet safe. It comes in a red bag. Its very powdery so be careful it gets everywhere fast.

I sprinkle it on the pine shavings so when the chicks dust themselves they get a little of the DE all over them. Its a very effective way to get rids of pests. It will kill any bug that makes contact with DE within 48 hours by drying them out.

I learned from this board all about it. Do a search for DE. Amazing stuff. I now use it inside my house to kill ants and anything else that touches it. You can even eat the stuff.

 

[Luanne Hott]

Is this the right (safe) DE? I talked to the folks on the phone and they assured me that they use it on their own chickens. It is made by St. Gabriel Organics, and says it is food grade and pet approved. The active ingredients are - Diatomaceous earth silicon dioxide 85%, other element oxides 10% and 5% moisture. I just want your opinion on it's safety for my birds. I was wanting to use it on them and in their coop.
Thanks!!!

 

[audioguy]

Dunno - my bag says "pet safe" in big letters and I requested "food grade" when I ordered it. I think/hope its the same, cause I been mixing it with the bedding for 3 weeks now!

 

[muffinmom]

You can also mix it with water to make a paste and "paint" it on the trunks of fruit trees to prevent earwigs and other crawling pests. Paint it on your roosts, or cracks in your coop where mites hide. You can apply it with a flour sifter too, or mustard-type squeeze bottle. Just don't inhale it -- not good for your lungs.

 

[Kudzu]

My wife has been on it for about a month, check back in a few months and I will give you the skinny on it.

 

[audioguy]

Seems to be a mixed consensus on the benefits and/or consequences of using DE. Its all over the Internet, but who knows who is right? Hard to believe everything you read.