Diatomaceous Earth: Harmful or Useful?

[agold23]

I've often wondered if DE is actually safe for poultry.

What do you guys think?

I use it on the floor of my coop, after I muck it out every 3/4 weeks, I spread a thin layer on the floor and put straw on top. My grandma used it when she had her flock and had no lice issues so we use it too.

https://www.backyardchickencoops.co...-earth-a-natural-remedy-for-troubled-chickens

Good read, tells you what it is and how it could work.

 

[MTR]

I've often wondered if DE is actually safe for poultry.

What do you guys think?

I use DE under my bedding with no issues. I wear an n95 mask when I clean the coop and make sure they aren’t in when I do. It got rid of all of the bugs I had going on.

 

[MTR]

Love it! Use it in the feed about once per month and below the bedding areas, droppings areas and around the feeders. Of course, our coop is dry, so the issues with moisture in the coop seem to point to a problem with coop design versus a moisture control.

We've also used it in the garage to stop a parade of ants seeking our cat's feed bowl. Around the feeders, it keeps all sorts of bugs away from the food - each time we open the feeders, there are ZERO insects though they stay in covered areas outside 24/7.

We also use it in dust-bathing areas for the chickens, and we have no respiratory issues.

Why do you use it in the feed? It needs to be dry to work.

 

[Swbertrand1]

Why do you use it in the feed? It needs to be dry to work.

It kills pests in the feed. We don't serve wet feed. I'm confused...

 

[MTR]

It kills pests in the feed. We don't serve wet feed. I'm confused...

Sorry I thought you were using it for a benefit in the chicken. Killings bugs in the feed makes sense.

 

[Birdie mom]

For those of you who don't use DE, what alternative methods would you suggest to rid chickens of lice and other bugs?

 

[Painted Calls]

For those of you who don't use DE, what alternative methods would you suggest to rid chickens of lice and other bugs?

Permethrin.

 

[Birdie mom]

Ok, I just dusted down the coop and chickens, now we will wait and see.

 

[Painted Calls]

Ok, I just dusted down the coop and chickens, now we will wait and see.

You will need to repeat every 7 days until they are gone.

 

[Birdie mom]

DIE LICE