DE question

[CindyG]

What is DE, what is it used for??

 

[Camelot Farms]

We order ours too. I end up paying as much for shipping as I do for the DE.

CrAzY....but worth it

 

[dsqard]

I did a search for your area and the closest distributor I could find was in Erie. Too far away I know! I was having the same problem here in Utah (I just moved up here a few months ago from AZ and the feed stores carried the food grade down there) with the feed stores not carrying the food grade DE. I like to use it as a feed through for fly control with my horses as well as for my chicks. I was going to order some but like mentioned above, the shipping was more than the 50lb bag. I did find a link to some 5lb bags that are very reasonably priced and I wouldassume that the shipping would also be reasonable! Hope this helps! http://www.gardenharvestsupply.com/product/diatomaceous-earth-food-grade
BTW we have a wonderful classified web site for a tri-state area that I was able to find a local person selling 50lb bags. You could see if there is something like that in your area.

 

[sharol]

I found "feed" grade (that is what the salesman insisted it was correctly called) in a farm store in Topeka, KS. It was in a 50 lb bag and was just under $30. It is also called "Fossil Shell Flour" and "amorphous silica" on the bag in addition to diatomaceous earth. The brand is Perma-Gard It says "food grade" on the label. I called all the feed stores and most of them said, "Huh?" when I told them what I wanted. The guy at the last place said, sure, and gave me directions to their location. This is a store that sells cattle feed and other cattle products to ranchers. It isn't a fancy, schmancy place that caters to backyard gardeners. I would suggest just doing a search for "farm supply" and your city and state in Google and start making phone calls.

 

[True Grit]

Countryside Natural Products online delivered 50 lbs for about 46 bucks.

 

[jaj121159]

Quote:
This place is located in a town close to me. They have a good reputation. Matter of fact I bought 10lbs. from them last week. It is like flour and hard to tell from white wheat flour. I am using it for my chickens, but plan on making treats for my dogs out of it as well.

 

[dirtdoctor]

I have used the deep litter method for two years, the floor is dirt, with the straw, mostly rice straw for bedding, we averaged about 130 birds living in this 2 car garage sized coop, and we have no odors, once a month or so, I toss the scratch on the floor and the rototillers go after it loosening the bedding, when its hot, I will spray the place down, and it drys out, smelling good, and we have no mites, or skin problems on our birds. The coop has plenty of air movement which keeps the girls happy. In the summer 100degree days, the interior of the coop is a coolish 85 degrees.

Enjoy the day,
Why keep mucking out bedding, when you can enjoy the out of doors

 

[Unclebean]

Quote:
You are located close to me and I deal with 2 feed mills that are close by. One is in Valley View and the other is in Pine Grove. I will give them a call tomorrow to find out if they carry food grade DE. I'll be in touch!

 

[dirtdoctor]

One thing to note, D.E. is ok as a food grade item, HowEver,,,, if a animal is ill, the sharpness of the diatoms can and will cause issues with the g. i. tract. so on a occasional basis it is great for worms etc... BUT careful, it can weaken an animal that might be in top form. GOOGLE D. E. for pets and animals, ALot of reading to do, but the bottom line is 'still too much of a good thing might not be too good of much.'

 

[NewToFarming]

Thanks for all of the great info!!!

Unclebean:....... I will be waiting to hear from you! Valley View isn't too far but I would travel to Pine Grove for it also! I wasn't aware of other feed places in the area and the only one I knew of was the one in Halifax. Of course they didn't have it.