Diatomaceous earth in dust bath? Help!

[Henrybelle]

I’ve read multiple conflicting articles and forums on using diatomaceous earth in dust baths. Some say not to use it because it can cause respiratory problems and others do. I’m just looking for more opinions and a general consensus. Also I’ve heard wood ash but would this count as a similar situation or is it less powdery?

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

My wood ash and DE are about the same consistency. Except, sometimes there are chunks of wood in the ash.
I have added DE to the dust baths in the winter. I also sprinkled it in their nest boxes. But, I didn't know there was controversy at first. Now, I do.

 

[Henrybelle]

Thank you for your input, I have young pullets and I use pine shavings for bedding right now and the past one or two times that I’ve changed the bedding I sprinkled a little in there and fluffed it all up because I noticed them trying to dust bath in the new litter (and seriously not very much at all!) and I noticed a few of them sneezing the other day and only just put it together that it could be the DE I thought they were getting sick! But they haven’t really been exposed so I was confused. Thanks again!

 

[chickengeorgeto]

The anti mite action of wood ash is in its lye content. Some wild birds seek out ant hills and use these to bathe in. The base chemicals in ant venom act much like the lye in wood ashes. DE is like broken glass and beside being absolutely useless to prevent or to control lice and mites DE can be deadly in the lungs of birds. If DE was a viable alternative to chemical solutions then using DE would be a different story.

 

[Folly's place]

I don't use DE for anything; it's dangerous to breathe, ineffective, and mining it is ugly.
Some wood ashes out there are not so bad, although in my sandy soil, my chickens make dust baths everywhere, and never where I want them to be.
Mary

 

[Little Jerry Seinfeld]

I know people have polar opposite opinions on this, I have always used de on my dogs and plants, I put it in for my chickens once or twice a week, especially new ones, because I'm afraid of them bringing anything into the flocks. It does make my chicks sneeze sometimes...

 

[Fishkeeper]

DE works by suffocating any insects it lands on, but it is NOT a good preventative measure, it only kills insects that it thoroughly coats. It's bad for your lungs, and birds have delicate lungs and delicate air sacs, they shouldn't be exposed to something that harsh. Use wood ash instead.

 

[Henrybelle]

Yes I’ve used it (Foodgrade DE) on my dog and cat but I know the “birds” have super sensitive respiratory systems. Thank you for the personal opinions. So the wood doesn’t pose a threat to breathe in?

 

[RWise]

I would say any kind of dust is bad to breath, for you/me/whatever.
I use food grade DE, but I feed it in stuff, such as I give my dogs a peanut butter bend over with DE in the mix. Claim is it helps get rid of internal parasites.
In the dust baths I add hard wood ash and powdered sulfur.

 

[KettermanHillCoop]

Like you, I've read conflicting opinions on DE. (as well as conflicting opinions on other topics) You just have to analyze all that you read and come to your own opinion and make a choice for your flock.

After all my reading, this is what I do:

Nest boxes and coop - Sprinkle a thin layer of DE, followed by a thin layer of PDZ then top with a nice fluffy layer of pine shavings.

Dirt bath (I have a tire in the run) - I have equal parts of DE, wood ash and construction sand mixed together.