Diatomaceous earth--- Really that harmless?????

[spatcher]

The amount of poop will determine how often you use it. When it starts to get messy and providing the chickens are not turning it under for you, turn it with a small rake of some kind and sprinkle away. With my 7 adult birds I'm adding a bit about every 2 weeks or so. You dont need a heavy layer of it, just to freshen it up!

 

[rosepetal]

HI !!!!!!!! so my chickens have itchy bugs. I used DE yesterday. dusting everyone and cleaning out the coop and dusting the coop. I am wondering how often i will have to do this to get rid of the nasty bugs? (it was quite a job)

If you have any experience getting rid of chicken lice Let Me Know!!!!!!!! THANKS!

 

[Sylvie]

We have a composting toilet, a very nice $1200 unit. We began having flies despite turning it religiously and tried DE. Worked like a charm and we only have to use it once in summer as a preventative. Have not seen a fly in 10 years.
I will use it when the girls go to the coop.

 

[JennsPeeps]

In case anyone is interested, this is from wikipedia...

Res ipsa loquitur is a legal term from the Latin meaning literally, "the thing itself speaks" but is more often translated "the thing speaks for itself." It signifies that further details are unnecessary; the proof of the case is self-evident.

I just got my DE yesterday and sprinkled it liberally where the girls bathe, in their coop, in their run. Wouldn't you know that they have now changed their bathing spot?? Now I need to work it into the dirt a bit so they don't freak out over the white powder.

un Ornery things.​

 

[cheraboo]

I'm a little confused. What's the diff between Perma Guard and the food grade DE sold at custom milling? Just wondering because of the costs of each.

 

[MrsSmitho]

Adding my 2 cents worth on DE.

We have used it all my life...to help with fleas and to worm adult dogs.

WARNING!! Do NOT use around infant animals...it will kill them and it is not pretty. Yes, personal experience here in the worst way! It does to their lungs and intestines exactly what it does to the legs and bodies of the bugs...they need to be off the momma to use.

ALSO, in older, sick, young persons in the house...don't let them breath it in, like in the event you are spreading and they are around. It works great (in the house, as a border, in the coop, etc), but people with lung issues, it can hurt.

wonderful day to all

Kim

 

[spatcher]

For the best info on Food Grade DE see www.freshwaterorganics.com/what_is_de.htm AND be sure to stay away from non-food grade AND any food grade WITH additives!!!

 

[speckledhen]

Quote:
None. Custom Milling sells Perma Guard.

 

[chickon baby]

I'm so confused abt D.E. hubby got D.E. "stall dry" it is D.E and has "monomorrillite and a "scented agent" from Tractor supply.We wanted to dust the beds and make a small area in the fenced play area for them so they could have a "dust bath" Is this the correct stuff? Is this bad or will it work for what we want???

 

[Whispering Winds]

One of the older posts on here about DE told about going to a farm show or something, and a guy was there demonstrating it, and he actually sprinkled it on his hamburger and ate it . . .the food grade is not silica, its actually ground up tiny sea creatures isn't it? Like plankton . . .(don't tell your SpongeBob fans!!! hee hee) . . .silica is what you use to dry flowers and stuff in . . .silica is also a gel, and not for human consumption. Your feed store guy needs to read up on stuff . . .not being mean, but this is EXACTLY how we get feed and stuff that we did not want . . .and then have to suffer the consequences.