DE v.s. oyster shell powder

[clucky2]

I have a fair understanding of the importance of using food grade DE. I am using oyster shell powder. It does a fine job at poop drying, we have many flies. Very little smell though.
How does oyster shell powder compare to DE. Is it some kind of non-food grade DE? Anyone else use it? I've never seen a reference to it in the forum. HMM.

 

[Tweeza]

Never heard of oyster shell powder. What's the cost and where do you get it?

I'm interested in what the others have to say about this also.

 

[kathyinmo]

I have never heard of oyster shell powder for drying. Food Grade D.E. is wonderful for it's drying, and also used as prevention for lice/mites/worms. It is NOT for treatment of those, but is helpful in prevention of them. I love D.E. for what it is good at. I have a 12'x16' coop, and I have no smell. I use pine shavings, and sprinkle D.E. on it weekly.

 

[patandchickens]

While I have not personally encountered oyster shell powder sold commercially, it would be mainly calcium carbonate, i.e. basically the same thing as if you buy a bag of ground calcitic limestone (one of the two flavors of agricultural lime) from the feedstore, like the stuff used to raise the pH of too-acid soils.

As powdered calcium carbonate, yeah, it should do some good with moisture and especially *smells*.

It really has nothing to do with DE though -- DE is silica, sometimes with clay also added.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[juliawitt]

Hopefully, someone will tell me....What is DE? I have ask before but never gotten an answer. Went to three farmstores and saw no DE product. I got some poultry dust which a put down and around...but the question remains, what is DE and where can I get it?

 

[Buugette]

Good site for info - http://wolfcreekranch1.tripod.com/defaq.html

Diatomaceous Earth - Food Grade

Feed Stores...

 

[teach1rusl]

I bought crushed oyster shell for when my hens are older and laying...it's powdery with small pieces in it...for the calcium. I haven't heard it used for drying out poop and such... I've got DE for that... Not sure if it would be cost effective because I bought such a tiny bag (of the oyster shell).

 

[teach1rusl]

Quote:
Some feed stores keep it on hand, others would have to order it for you. Some garden nurserys keep it too...just make sure it's food grade (fresh water)....