DE: what's wrong with non- food grade?

[Southernbelle]

I'm having a hard time finding DE in our area and a family-owned feedstore carries DE, but not food grade. I haven't bought any, yet, but wanted to know, what's so bad about it?

Then, does anyone reccommend a site I can order food-grade DE from?

 

[WisconsinChick]

non food grade is chemecially treated and would make you really ill if you ate it.

 

[crtrlovr]

it is poisonous to humans and animals and can be LETHAL. Do you REALLY want to take a chance on using non-food grade DE???
ETA: do a search online for food grade DE and you'll find multiple sources; choose the one which offers the right size for your needs and is closest to you or has reasonable S/H charges.

 

[speckledhen]

This webpage will explain it well.
http://wolfcreekranch1.tripod.com/defaq.html

 

[Hangin Wit My Peeps]

Custommilling is the cheapest I have found for shipping in my area. Shipping is not cheap but it's WORTH getting the food grade kind. They don't have it in my area either! Seems it's not a very popular thing to carry which I can't figure out why! I wonder if most chicken owners around our areas don't even know about it?

http://www.custommilling.com/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1

 

[sundance]

I use GoldenBlend Group, I pay$20.00 for 50 lbs, but my dealer also sells food for exotic animal like lama's and so I pick it up at the flea market where he has a stall. marrie

 

[jmeeter88]

Isn't diatomaceous earth the stuff you spread around your garden to kill slugs?

 

[speckledhen]

Yes, it is, but this is not that type. Regular DE has 85% silicon and the Food grade is around 1%. You can even put it in the feed to keep bugs out. Cant do that with regular DE.

 

[Southernbelle]

Thank you so much for all the replies and links! I knew there was a difference, but I didn't know what. I appreciate all the information!

 

[spatcher]

To be food grade it has to have less than 3% crystalline silica. The non-food grade can kill you, let alone your chickens! I sell Perma-Guard Codex Food Grade DE which is the purest on the market. It has less than one half of one percent of crystalline silica. PM me for more info if you need it.