Diatomaceous Earth in coop?

[cmom]

I have used DE in the past and it didn't do much of anything and I still had the pests. If you get mites or lice the best product to get rid of them in my opinion is permethrin. You can get the dust, premixed spray and the concentrate. Most likely sometime in your chicken adventure you will possibly have some pests (lice or mites). Wild birds can introduce them as well as other critters. If you have a TSC, they carry it.

 

[cmom]

Just make sure to use protection while "sprinkling" the DE on the coop.

Glad you also joined us. Good luck and have fun...

 

[member 546703]

I have used DE in the past and it didn't do much of anything and I still had the pests. If you get mites or lice the best product to get rid of them in my opinion is permethrin. You can get the dust, premixed spray and the concentrate. Most likely sometime in your chicken adventure you will possibly have some pests (lice or mites). Wild birds can introduce them as well as other critters. If you have a TSC, they carry it.

Thank you! So far, not a problem that I’m aware of. Trying to prevent any issues if I can. We live in the woods so there are lots of critters around.

 

[aart]

Just make sure to use protection while "sprinkling" the DE on the coop.

Better yet, just don't use it at all.
it's worthless for preventing lice and mites.
Plain old dirt baths will do just as much.

Don't use chemicals in dirt baths either.
If you use permethrin as a preventative, it might not work when you really need it.
Examine birds regularly for lice and mites, if you see them then treat using permethrin.

Bugs check

Have you checked them over real well for mites and/or lice?

Google images of lice/mites and their eggs before the inspection so you'll know what you're looking for.

Part the feathers right down to the skin around vent, head/neck and under wings.

Best done well after dark with a strong flashlight/headlight, easier to 'catch' bird and also to check for the mites that live in structure and only come out at night to feed off roosting birds.

Wipe a white paper towel along the underside of roost to look for red smears(smashed well fed mites).

 

[ValerieJ]

I am fairly new and still learning how to properly raise chickens. (I have a 1 year old RIR and a bantam currently and have new chicks coming in the mail)
I’ve read that it is good to place diatomaceous earth in your nesting boxes and coop floor.
I sprinkled a thin layer around underneath the hay in the nesting boxes and also some in the coop floor which I also covered with a layer of hay.
Now, I’m second guessing my decision and am worried that it may not be healthy for my girls? Any advice here? Thank you

There are many on this site who think FGDE is very bad for your chickens. I'm not one of them. I have only had my chickens for 4 years, but I have been using it from the beginning in the coop and have never had mites. I found it hard to keep it a light dusting using the sprinkling method, so I bought a DE duster that helps me just put a fine dusting everywhere, including corners. Only $7.99 on Amazon. Works great! I clean coops and dust when the chickens are outside so it is well settle down when they come in. Also, I wear a mask when I'm cleaning the coops. Even without DE, the straw will get my allergies going. My coops are completely cleaned every week, and spot cleaned during the week, so that may also contribute to my success with DE. Whenever possible I avoid all chemicals, but if you decide to use a spray instead, Pyrethrin is the organic version of Permethrin.

Harris Diatomaceous Earth Powder Duster with 6 Inch Extension Nozzle
Sold by: PF Harris
$7.99

 

[aart]

Sorry, but....

contribute to my success with DE

Your 'success'(luck) is that you've never had mites.

have never had mites.

If you had had an infestation of mites and successfully eliminated them with DE that would be a different story.

 

[member 546703]

Better yet, just don't use it at all.
it's worthless for preventing lice and mites.
Plain old dirt baths will do just as much.

Don't use chemicals in dirt baths either.
If you use permethrin as a preventative, it might not work when you really need it.
Examine birds regularly for lice and mites, if you see them then treat using permethrin.

Bugs check

Have you checked them over real well for mites and/or lice?

Google images of lice/mites and their eggs before the inspection so you'll know what you're looking for.

Part the feathers right down to the skin around vent, head/neck and under wings.

Best done well after dark with a strong flashlight/headlight, easier to 'catch' bird and also to check for the mites that live in structure and only come out at night to feed off roosting birds.

Wipe a white paper towel along the underside of roost to look for red smears(smashed well fed mites).

Great advice, thank you!

 

[member 546703]

There are many on this site who think FGDE is very bad for your chickens. I'm not one of them. I have only had my chickens for 4 years, but I have been using it from the beginning in the coop and have never had mites. I found it hard to keep it a light dusting using the sprinkling method, so I bought a DE duster that helps me just put a fine dusting everywhere, including corners. Only $7.99 on Amazon. Works great! I clean coops and dust when the chickens are outside so it is well settle down when they come in. Also, I wear a mask when I'm cleaning the coops. Even without DE, the straw will get my allergies going. My coops are completely cleaned every week, and spot cleaned during the week, so that may also contribute to my success with DE. Whenever possible I avoid all chemicals, but if you decide to use a spray instead, Pyrethrin is the organic version of Permethrin.

Harris Diatomaceous Earth Powder Duster with 6 Inch Extension Nozzle
Sold by: PF Harris
$7.99

Thank you. I keep hearing such a variety of thoughts and opinions. It’s nice to see what does work for people and know that several factors could come into play.
We just built a new coop and it’s all nice and “clean” and I want to try my best to keep it that way. By clean I mean no bugs and healthy chicks.
Appreciate everyone’s input.

 

[cmom]

Most chicken owners have or will have an issue and one time or another. I never had any mites until last year. I tried the DE but still had the mites. Silly me I bought 50# bag of it.