Diatomaceous earth? For pest control and refreshing

[ClaytonJ]

I’ve been reading up on the benefits of using Diatomaceous earth. People say it’s beneficial in controlling insects, good for digestion and a type of natural refreshing application. I’ve been using it in my coop, which has a dirt floor, and on the ground in the run area. I scrape the floor of both the coop and run every week. I use straw after I put down the diatomaceous earth. This seems to be working well. I have no pest/insect issues that I can tell. Am I doing harm or good? Any input is appreciated! Thank you all

 

[CraftyHen]

DE is tends to be a testy subject at BYC. It seems people either love it or hate it. I personally love it. I've used it for years in the chickens feed as well as i their nest boxes. Never any issues with the hens--no mites, lice or other bugs and no chicken has been sick and treated for worms either. If it works for you and your flock, then you're doing just fine.

 

[aart]

It might help prevent issues.
But I've read too many stories about worm overload and bug infestations where the keepers claims..."but I use DE all the time".

It can also be a serious respiratory irritant for both birds and keepers.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Am I doing harm or good?

I don't know. There are people that love DE, they use it in their gardens or ingest it themselves, let alone with their chickens. There are people that avoid it. I'm one of the avoiders. I've never used it and I've never had a problem with mites, lice, tapeworms, or roundworms, the things it is supposed to prevent. That doesn't prove it's not effective just like someone using it and not having problems doesn't prove it is. You can't prove a negative.

I've read several posts on this forum where some people say it has helped as a treatment for an actual infection. Others say it hasn't helped at all. I don't know what other factors may be involved. A lot of the time the devil is in the details.

When the topic first came up on here I tried to do some research. How does it work and what are the risks? Like practically everything else on the internet it's hard to get reliable information. You get all kinds of different stories and just don't know if you can trust the source or not. It's supposed to help in two ways. It is basically really tiny really sharp knives. When bugs crawl on it they slice themselves to ribbons. Also, it absorbs moisture. So those bugs dehydrate and die. And by absorbing moisture in grain storage it helps prevent mold. Obviously it can only absorb so much moisture but that can be a help. Many sources say that once it gets wet those tiny knives are no longer effective. I don't know how true that is. A lot I don't know.

What convinced me to avoid it was when I found the handling requirements to use it commercially. People using food grade DE are required to use breathing protection. Don't let that stuff in your lungs. I don't wear a mask when taking care of my chickens and I'm not putting a mask on them. Since I'm not sure how effective it actually is anyway, there are other ways to deal with these issues if they ever show up, and they haven't shown up I don't see a benefit in using it.

 

[ClaytonJ]

I don't know. There are people that love DE, they use it in their gardens or ingest it themselves, let alone with their chickens. There are people that avoid it. I'm one of the avoiders. I've never used it and I've never had a problem with mites, lice, tapeworms, or roundworms, the things it is supposed to prevent. That doesn't prove it's not effective just like someone using it and not having problems doesn't prove it is. You can't prove a negative.

I've read several posts on this forum where some people say it has helped as a treatment for an actual infection. Others say it hasn't helped at all. I don't know what other factors may be involved. A lot of the time the devil is in the details.

When the topic first came up on here I tried to do some research. How does it work and what are the risks? Like practically everything else on the internet it's hard to get reliable information. You get all kinds of different stories and just don't know if you can trust the source or not. It's supposed to help in two ways. It is basically really tiny really sharp knives. When bugs crawl on it they slice themselves to ribbons. Also, it absorbs moisture. So those bugs dehydrate and die. And by absorbing moisture in grain storage it helps prevent mold. Obviously it can only absorb so much moisture but that can be a help. Many sources say that once it gets wet those tiny knives are no longer effective. I don't know how true that is. A lot I don't know.

What convinced me to avoid it was when I found the handling requirements to use it commercially. People using food grade DE are required to use breathing protection. Don't let that stuff in your lungs. I don't wear a mask when taking care of my chickens and I'm not putting a mask on them. Since I'm not sure how effective it actually is anyway, there are other ways to deal with these issues if they ever show up, and they haven't shown up I don't see a benefit in using it.

WoW, thank you for the research! I appreciate you commenting on the post.
i can say that I’ve personally been using “DE” by ingesting it by mixing a tablespoon it in a cup of water everyday for about 2 months now and I can definitely notice that it makes me feel less bloated and my bowel movements are more frequent and seem to be better. Blushing..,
As for applying it to the earth and throughout my coop and run as deterrent for mites and various insects it appears to be doing something. I haven’t noticed any mites or anything else for that matter as of lately.
the concerns as to inhaling the dust is a valid concern which I will be researching more in depth.
Again, thank you for your insight! Take care of yourself and chickens.

 

[Easterly]

Does this really work? I heard various rumors about Diatomaceous earth and many commercials, but I didn't really believe in them. Can you tell me how long you got rid of the insects after using this trick? I have a big problem with insects at my summer residence, and I don't know what solutions to use other than pest control and professional disinsection. I tried various sprays and tricks with hot water poured over the ground, but nothing had a long-lasting result.

 

[Kiki]

Does this really work? I heard various rumors about Diatomaceous earth and many commercials, but I didn't really believe in them. Can you tell me how long you got rid of the insects after using this trick? I have a big problem with insects at my summer residence, and I don't know what solutions to use other than pest control and professional disinsection. I tried various sprays and tricks with hot water poured over the ground, but nothing had a long-lasting result.

No it doesn't work...for lice, mites or worms.

 

[Lizconti99]

I want to follow this thread! I am also very intrigued by DE. I like the idea of using it instead of chemicals, but does it work? Who knows. Everyone is right- people either swear by it or think it’s just phoney bologna! I want to believeeeee!!!!!!!

 

[lisa158]

I use it as a preventative, however, if my birds get sick I use tried and true meds. As far as scarry precautions the same warning comes on many industrial sized food bags such as flour. In my opinion ,for small flocks, its worth using in grain and around the coop. You may find this article interesting. It may also explain why some love it and some don't.

Effect of diatomaceous earth on parasite load, egg production, and egg quality of free-range organic laying hens​

D C Bennett 1, A Yee, Y-J Rhee, K M Cheng
Affiliations expand

• PMID: 21673156
• DOI: 10.3382/ps.2010-01256

Free article

Abstract​

The effectiveness of diatomaceous earth (DE) as a treatment against parasites and to increase feed efficiency and egg production of organically raised free-range layer hens was evaluated in 2 breeds of commercial egg layers [Bovan Brown (BB) and Lowmann Brown (LB)] that differ in their resistance to internal parasitic infections. Half the hens of each breed were fed diets supplemented with DE (2%). Their internal parasite loads were assessed by biweekly fecal egg counts (FEC) and by postmortem examination of the gastrointestinal tract. Supplementing DE in diets of LB hens, the more parasite-resistant breed, did not significantly affect their FEC and adult parasite load. However, BB hens treated with dietary DE had significantly lower Capillaria FEC, slightly lower Eimeria FEC, fewer birds infected with Heterakis, and significantly lower Heterakis worm burden than control BB hens. Both BB and LB hens fed the diet containing DE were significantly heavier, laid more eggs, and consumed more feed than hens fed the control diet, but feed efficiency did not differ between the 2 dietary treatments. Additionally, BB hens consuming the DE diet laid larger eggs containing more albumen and yolk than hens consuming the control diet. In a subsequent experiment, the effectiveness of DE to treat a Northern fowl mite (Ornithonyssus sylviarum) infestation was tested. Relative to controls, both breeds of hens that were dusted with DE had reduced number of mites. The results of this study indicate the DE has the potential to be an effective treatment to help control parasites and improve production of organically raised, free-range layer hens.

 

[SandyRiverChick]

It'd be interesting to write a list of topic's where you're going to get a 50/50 split. This is for sure one of those topics. The only answers I find "interesting" are adamant assertions either way. I've been using it forever. Do I know that it's working, well no, I just think it is. I mix it in with feed once/year and I've never used a different wormer with my chickens. I've never had mite issues but that doesn't mean it's for sure because I use DE. I do cover my mouth when i'm applying it in my nest boxes.... My chickens have never had respiratory issues due to DE (I did get the 2 new chicks in my Avatar from a farm and one of them came with a respiratory issue so I knew it was not DE.) Unfortunately you just have to make your own call because won't know what info. is right or wrong....