I have a question please....so exactly what is DE used for then?? I just keep seeing it mentioned on different sites. Thank you!
To empty the gullible's pockets of money...<smirk>.
It can
sometimes help in some situations as a preventative.....the thing it's best at is keeping feed and grains free of pests while in storage.
Have found it to be very effective against grain mites in feed.
Also pack it into the cracks and crevices of wooden nest boxes under the straw bedding and under the vinyl on floor and roost boards.
Have you checked them over real well for mites and/or lice?
Best done well after dark with a strong flashlight/headlight, easier to 'catch' bird and also to check for the mites that live in structure and only come out at night to feed off roosting birds.
Wipe a white paper towel along the underside of roost to look for red smears(smashed well fed mites).
Part the feathers right down to the skin around vent, head/neck and under wings.
Google images of lice/mites and their eggs before the inspection so you'll know what you're looking for.
I've had some bare butted girls that had no bugs, some had very red skin that lasted for either just a few days or a few weeks but eventually went away, the feathers grew back after the molt. I don't worry about it too much unless I see bugs that need killing then use a poultry dust with permethrin, feathers still won't grow back until a molt tho.
