DE: DO They Eat It or Dust Bathe In It?

[the egg lady]

I just got my 10# bag of DE. I was planning on using it for mites. I've been reading old threads and some folks are mentioning adding it to the feed? Am I reading that Correctly? What would that do? Also, I've cleaned out the coop completely including the nesting boxes. Now do I dust the boxes then add some sawdust? And then put new sawdust on the floor and add some DE? I think someone also mentioned dusting the perches with DE? Thank you in advance for your help>

 

[moodusnewchick]

hi,
keep reading and searching those posts for DE. Dawn417 (i think that's the name) has a great link to how and why to use DE. People do mix de in with food. it helps clean out possible parasite growth in the body as well. make sure you have the food grade stuff before putting in with feed...and you can eat the food grade too! (i haven't gotten myself to this yet, but i do plan on it. apparently we can have worms and not even know!).
good luck!

 

[Hiedi]

I am interested to see the responses in this thread because I have recently started using diatomaceous earth myself, although I have not used in the feed yet. I have mostly used it for dusting on their litter, perches, ramps, etc. I also dust some in the dirt in my chickens dust box and mix it in.

 

[Lea71]

The mill I buy feed from mixes DE in with their feed. My girls also dust bathe in the stuff, I mix it with dirt. I have no stinky poo smell in the coop or run....I think it's the DE.

 

[blueskylen]

i usually mix a bit in when giving them their treats - coating the corn and sunflower seeds. don't usually add it to their food. also, use it in the coop, as they dust bath in it and it is supposed to keep the mites,lice off of them. they seem to be happy and it seems to work well for them.

 

[LynneP]

My mill uses DE in the feed too...so check the bag, DE can be expensive and if it's already there...

I love the DE in the bedding and I use it sprinkled outside the perimeter of my coop and run to act as a parasite barrier for ticks, and mites.

 

[angels4]

I use it for both. I also sprinkle a tbs onto yogurt for myself. Food Grade, all natural, and people claim it lowers the blood pressure, cholesterol, help with joint pain etc.............I just started and haven't had any ill effects.

 

[cmom]

I use DE in my coop in their run and where they like to dust bathe. In the pine shavings in their coop I sprinkle FOOD GRADE DE (Diatomaceous Earth) on the shavings. Also my roosts in my coop are over wire which allows the poop through and I sprinkle the DE over the poop too. The pine shavings are on the floor in the rest of the coop. Monthly I add some shavings and weekly I add DE. I clean my coop once a year. Once in awhile I throw some scratch on the shaving with the DE and let the chickens mix it up. They so a very good job. I have no problems with flies, stink and such. My pine shavings stay nice and dry easy to clean out. I put them in my compost pile. which every once in awhile I give a toss to keep it mixed up with the other stuff that goes in. sprinkle with water and let it cook. I move my coop and chicken yard about every 3 months approx, clean up the poop under the roost and it goes into the compost. I grow so much produce that I give most of it away. My soil is low in acid so I think the pine shavings and poop are good for my soil.