DE for Chicks: How Young is Too Young?

[latebloomer]

i have some food grade DE and some almost four week old chicks

can i start putting it in their food and deep litter?

 

[AlienChick]

I don't put it into their food, myself, but I do sprinkle it lightly in the bedding whenever I add new shavings.

I've been doing this from day One.

 

[al6517]

They shouldn't need it in their food just yet, but it still won't harm them in any way. You can dust them and their bedding now without any issues.

AL

 

[spiritdance]

I add it to their dust bath from day one. It helps with external parasites, and when they groom themselves after bathing they get a dose internally too.

 

[latebloomer]

thank you for all your help, this is such a great place.

 

[jimz1]

What is DE?

 

[latebloomer]

Diatomaceous Earth

http://www.ghorganics.com/DiatomaceousEarth.html

 

[redbarnfeathers]

I use DE in their brooders and in all my houses on a monthly basis, just a dusting, as a preventative, it is great......

 

[lynnolekas]

There is another thread going on about this...some say yes, some say no.
I use it both on the feed and in the brooder for their dust baths.
I have found LOTS of info regarding DE but here on this site there
are a few nay-sayers. Either way, you won't be hurting anything
by starting now. Remember food grade though...

There is a site from the UK called Poultry Keeper with info:
http://poultrykeeper.com/common-articles-to-all-poultry/health/diatomaceous-earth-for-poultry.html

Here is one from the States:
http://wolfcreekranch1.tripod.com/defaq.html

And from the BYC archive:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/se...3:y2gvw4jitn2&cof=FORID:10&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=di
(that's a crazy long link - not sure it's clickable)

Good luck with your research AND your girls!

Lynn

 

[AlienChick]

DE dries the poop quickly in the bedding, so for that alone I'm grateful!!!

I use the deep litter method in the brooders (haven't changed the litter since they've been in there . . . just keep adding more) and there is no smell.

My chicks are teenagers now and still in the brooder (cuz I'm not finished with the coop).

All I do is add more litter on top and sprinkle the area with DE.

GREAT STUFF . . . no matter what a nay-sayer might say.

.