DE Poll - Do you use it? For how long have you used it?

[SandraChick]

Do you use Food Grade DE in your coop, feed, run, etc.?
coop, feed, dusting areas, mixed with orange oil and painted on interior walls. I give it to my cats, dogs, chickens, and ducks

If so, for how long have you used it?
4+years

At what age did you start to use it?
My chickens take care of the chicks...so I guess from day 1

What benefits have YOU noticed since using it?
no mites, dryer poops, no worms (verified by vet doing fecal on dog, cat, and ducks). My fowl free range and I found it difficult to get them enough (they hardly eat feed), so I mix it in their treats. I have rescued many chickens and they always seem to come with lice/mites and very runny smelly poops--Poop is normal usually within 24-48hrs and the mite/lice issue resolved in days.
Any negatives you've experienced?
Difficult to find here and shipping is expensive--but well worth it. I also don't use it liberally in the garden because it kills bees.

All the vets I've spoken to don't believe it works as well as it does---but when my cat/dog fecals come back with no worms year after year and I tell them all I use is DE...I at least get a hmmmmm out of them! (I have used Ivermectin on incoming new rescue chickens who are in poor shape and have extreme cases--such as my hen with scaley mites so bad her scales were falling off)

I don't think it's a cure all...but I do believe it can make a huge difference and I treat it more like a preventative. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!

As far as the dust issue-- It doesn't bother me any more than the dust I get doing yard work when the dirt is dry. My DH recently built a fire pit, and the chickens just love dusting in the ash.....which by the way is another natural method for lice/mite control that's been used for ages. The chickens breathe in the ash without problems...and for that matter, they breathe in the dust they kick up while dust bathing---It's all DUSTY!

Edited to say that I have TONS of worms- of all types and sizes...Have not seen a reduction of worms with DE.

It's a personal choice in my opinion. I choose to use it--and I don't beget anyone who choses not to.
Sandra

 

[mrsgibber]

This has been enlightening. Thank you!

 

[chickiebaby]

What an excellent, civil and totally useful discussion. You rock, chicken buddies.

 

[craftymomto5]

It seems like more use it than not. It was suggested that I use this as a lawn treatment for fleas and ticks. Has anyone used it for this? If so how did it work? If not then what else do you use? Anyone use nematodes? Do they work? I can't use both so I need to figure out which one to use.

 

[countrygirlatheart]

Where do you get it? What is the full name exactly?

 

[newchickmom]

I bought a 50# bag from Wolf Creek last summer and have been using it since. I will need to order more soon.(none of the stores around here carry it)

I use it under the roosts, in the nest boxes and on the floor(in the shavings)

I also use it in my horse stalls. The DE helps keep the damp and odor down.