DE in dust bath for chicks?

[NewchickieLTJ]

I have 1 week old baby chicks, and wanted to provide them a dust bath area. Is it ok to add food grade DE to it? I have some ash, and sandy dirt from our yard also. I like the idea of DE, but also worry about respiratory effects of the dust for the chicks...and my family, since the chicks are in our house.

 

[2 many chickens]

It's fine
As long as you don't throw it in the air and run through it like it's fairy dust, you and the chicks will be OK

 

[chkva]

I have 1 week old baby chicks, and wanted to provide them a dust bath area. Is it ok to add food grade DE to it? I have some ash, and sandy dirt from our yard also. I like the idea of DE, but also worry about respiratory effects of the dust for the chicks...and my family, since the chicks are in our house.

DE in the house from my experience is a bad decision... It gets so dusty just like using sand in your brooder. I only use sand and de outside because the dust just becomes a mess. Doesn't matter how much I vacuumed or dusted, it was 24/7 dust. That's when I decided to brood my chickens outside.

 

[The Phantom]

DE is like throwing flour around. Very dusty.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Keep it plain dirt for chicks, they will love it. Parasites shouldn't be an issue. If they are... there are safer more effective alternatives.

DE is not welcome at my house... and considered ineffective in humid environments.

It's a personal choice... I'm in the anti DE camp for several reason.

Congrats on your new chicks!

 

[NewchickieLTJ]

Keep it plain dirt for chicks, they will love it. Parasites shouldn't be an issue. If they are... there are safer more effective alternatives.

DE is not welcome at my house... and considered ineffective in humid environments.

It's a personal choice... I'm in the anti DE camp for several reason.

Congrats on your new chicks!

Thanks!! So the dirt from my house should be safe to use? I was going to gather it from a drier area of the yard vs a shady/muddy one...I thought maybe less chance of parasites then.

 

[chickens really]

Nope...Don't use it....

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Thanks!! So the dirt from my house should be safe to use? I was going to gather it from a drier area of the yard vs a shady/muddy one...I thought maybe less chance of parasites then.

Yes, as long as they haven't been vaccinated against Marek's and still under the quarantine period fir it.

I bring in a clump... roots, grass, and all.

 

[NewchickieLTJ]

Yes, as long as they haven't been vaccinated against Marek's and still under the quarantine period fir it.

I bring in a clump... roots, grass, and all.

Ok, thanks! They haven’t been vaccinated