DE (Food Grade Fossil Shell Flour)

[spatcher]

Okay folks! Some people swear by it, others refuse to use it. Could you please list your best and worst experiences with DE please, so others can see testamonials here instead of looking for them? Thanks! You will be doing others a great service!

 

[Mahonri]

We sweep and mop our 8 X 12 coop EVERY WEEK.

DE makes it so much easier.

NOTE: BUT WE ALWAYS USE A MASK TO CLEAN THE COOP. Both sweeping it up and putting it down.

 

[Indiana hens]

I think Food grade DE is what you want to know about.
http://www.earthworkshealth.com/ Try this web page

 

[1mommahen]

We use it in our coop and in the food. Have had no problems!

Spatcher, where ya been? Nice to see you here!

 

[spatcher]

Yes, thats exactly what I am referring to! Please do not refer to other DE sites. Am looking for YOUR personal experiences with it. For those who are not familiar with it, I doubt you will have any experiences with it. For clarification......your experiences with DE (Diatomacious Earth) Food Grade Fossil Shell Flour!

 

[spatcher]

Quote:
Nice seeing you as well! Been right here tending to the chooks! Hope all is well with you and yours!
Tim

 

[spookyevilone]

Because there's virtually no regulation in the amount of silica it can have before it's labeled "food grade". It has to be under a certain amount but there's no regulation on how far below. The more silica, the more dangerous it is to breathe. Silicosis scares the crap out of me, and it can take 15-20 years to show up, and you can get it from even an extremely small dose of silica in the lungs.

If it's on the floor, and I wear a particle mask when I clean, I'm probably going to get most of it. A normal 'dust mask' won't cut it because the particles are too fine. Unless I wear a particle mask EVERY TIME I go into the coop, I'm at risk. My creatures dust bathe. I can't be sure they didn't do it right before I walked in, or that they won't while I was in t here.

I've watched a relative die from silicosis. It was brutal and ugly, and that's the main reason I won't go near it. It's why I don't use clay or sand in the catbox, either.

The other reason is because the higher the silica concentration, the sharper the edges, and I don't want microscopic razor blades anywhere near my soft tissues, like my eyes, nose, mouth, lungs or innards. I've seen stories of people eating it. I haven't seen reports of the long term health of those people over a 15-20 year span from the time DE was added to the diet.

I don't have that many birds. Pest control isn't time consuming for me. I'd rather do it the very much old fashioned way and keep the scary stuff as far away from me as possible.

Please note, I'm not judging anyone for using it or not using it - These are simply MY reasons for going nowhere near it.
-Spooky

 

[lovemychix]

I am also wanting more info on DE. My brother just bought a 50 lb bag and was going to share with me.

 

[spatcher]

Quote:
If you have any experiences with it, would love to hear them! For the record you are confusing people here! It is regulated and has to have less than 3 "crystalline silica" to be food grade. All DE has silicon in it, usually around 70%! It is the crystalline silica that is hazardous. Please dont confuse the two. Little wonder some people are afraid to use it with misinformation such as you are putting forth here. Please limit responses to what you like/dislike about it. Not what you have heard or think you know.

 

[Chickenaddict]

I use it in the coop and brooders all the time, not only does it keep the smell of the poo down by drying it out but the chickens seem to enjoy rolling in the pine shavings with the food grade DE mixed in with it. Another bonus is i don't have to use the harsh poultry dust anymore. By using the DE in the coop it keeps the mites at bay and the chickens happy and healthy and makes clean up a breeze. Of course i use a mask when cleaning the areas out as well.