DE question, well, sort of

[nutmeg1980]

At least they knew what is was! I asked for it at my local Farm and Fleet store and no one working there had any idea what it was. They didn't seem to believe that it exists at all - then they asked me in a snotty tone "oh, is that some organic thing? We don't sell that kind of stuff here."..... Geeze!

 

[cobrien]

Quote:
From the label, I gather that the non food grade is sold to kill / control insects.

 

[MagsC]

Yes, I believe that is what the non-food grade is for? It just seems weird to me that with all the information out there now about food grade DE that people have no idea what it is.
"We dont sell that kind of stuff here"....geez, the feed stores must be related!

 

[DaveD]

According to wolf creek ranch (http://wolfcreekranch1.tripod.com/defaq.html)

Diatomaceous earth is mined, milled, and processed into a myriad of types for a large variety of uses. Filtering and filler are two main uses but diatomaceous earth also ends up in paints, cosmetics, drugs, chemical insecticides, etc. Because the milling produces different sized and shaped particles, it is important not to use the filtering type for agricultural purposes.

Pool filter grade diatomaceous earth has been heat and chemically treated and will poison an animal or human who ingests it, so it is always of utmost importance to only obtain food grade diatomaceous earth to use in and around your household.​

 

[ivan3]

The confusion is often innocent (on the part of feed store folks and end users), as crystalline and amorphous silica are sometimes confused purposely by some manufacturers (see my posts in the following thread - with link to earlier thread, as well).

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=295586&p=1