Diatomaceous Earth Food Grade ??

[undine]

What's DE Food Grade? How safe is it? Can it be used on crops? If i sprinkle some on the grass lawn to kill the ants and whatever bugs, will it be safe for my chickens..how safe?? O_O
Haha, sorry for asking so many questions, im just curious im going to be a new chick owner

 

[nannie]

I use it my chicken coop nesting boxes I also sprinkle it in my run.i didn't know it would kill ants and bugs.I am also new to chickens.my girls have been outside since mid april and there has not been no problem using de. GOOD LUCK TO YOU AND YOUR GIRLS.

 

[JNB]

I love using Food Grade DE around my little farm. I use it in my runs. I used to use it in my coops BUT recently learned that sometimes it can cause respiratory irritation in the birds and people When used in closed in spaces. Its a very fine dust and while natural any fine dust inhaled can irritate the lungs and airways. Makes sense to me Esp since I noticed I have a tight feeling in my chest after I dusted my interior coops.

I still mix a little into the feed, dust the runs and I use it in my garden area before I plant and in the fall before I cover the soil. Also its great to dust the plants if they have any little bugs on them. Its good for the soil. Here's a link that I really like for info about using it in garden and with bugs.

http://www.richsoil.com/diatomaceous-earth.jsp

My experience with it is its a wonderful preventive more than a treatment for mites and worms etc. I have friends that actually eat the stuff everyday. They swear by it Over all I think its a great tool for the farm

 

[chickengeorgeto]

What's DE ...? How safe is it? Can it be used on crops? If i sprinkle some on the grass lawn to kill the ants...

I have posted before about DE and its effect on ants. DE's effect on ants is similar to tossing a cotton tail rabbet into a brier patch.

 

[lifthiminsong]

I've put small amounts in my hens' food and we keep it mixed it dirt and moss in their dirt bathing box in the barn.

 

[Umlaut]

Most definitely safe! I put it in my dogs' food, too!