Diatamacious earth dust bath

[Ccort]

Do you have any experience using DE?
I don’t believe it’s dangerous if you follow instructions. I use it many years now. But yes, it is dangerous if you dust with pure powder.

In the Netherlands even the chicken farmers use DE sprayed on the walls every time the chicken shed is empty.

I use DE against normal ants on the terrace, near the door on top of the holes that indicate that there is a nest below the tiles/stone.
I don’t use poisons if I can avoid them , because I don’t want to poison the good insects , wild birds or chickens, or other animals.

I hate the poisons too. I've used DE before but it didnt stop carpenter ants. Regular ants, sure, but not these guys. I hesitate to use anything, knowing it'll likely kill my bumble bees.

 

[Pampered chicken girl]

Do you have any experience using DE?
I don’t believe it’s dangerous if you follow instructions. I use it many years now. But yes, it is dangerous if you dust with pure powder.

In the Netherlands even the chicken farmers use DE sprayed on the walls every time the chicken shed is empty.

I use DE against normal ants on the terrace, near the door on top of the holes that indicate that there is a nest below the tiles/stone.
I don’t use poisons if I can avoid them , because I don’t want to poison the good insects , wild birds or chickens, or other animals.

No but I have read many people saying they had problems with it and I never took the chance. Instead I use POULTRY PROTECTOR spray from tractor supply and/or the poultry shop parasite b gone. It's been working great for the mites and lice. I sprinkle it and spray it on the chickens and spray coop. Also DE is poisonous to pollinators which is always bad.

 

[BDutch]

No but I have read many people saying they had problems with it and I never took the chance. Instead I use POULTRY PROTECTOR spray from tractor supply and/or the poultry shop parasite b gone. It's been working great for the mites and lice. I sprinkle it and spray it on the chickens and spray coop. Also DE is poisonous to pollinators which is always bad.

I read on this site (https://feriantano.com/it ) that it does not harm bees.
You have to be careful using DE because it has a drying effect and the pure dust can irritated eyes and lungs. Thats why I mix it with water before applying it on surfaces for prevention. When it dries up it is effective . It kills crawling larvae of insects likes mites.
When you have a real infestation the shop advices to powder DE on the skin of chickens. But you have to repeat it every 3 days for a few weeks, until they are gone. It takes time and is not immediately effective.

 

[ValarieF]

Would diatomaceous earth be ok for a dust bath? I was thinking about pouring a bag into an old tire and putting it into the run. Should it be mixed with dirt?

Mix a little in dirt or sand they love it.