DIATOMACEOUS EARTH. Thoughts.......

[SA&P]

Hello and thanks for the welcome onto your forum.
Does anyone use this and if so, how?
Thank you in advance

 

[casportpony]

Welcome to BYC! What do you want to use it for?

 

[SueT]

I use it in their nests and in coop shavings to prevent mites. Sprinkle on, stir it in. When we got a new chicken, he got dusted w it as well. We have a local store that sells it in bulk, but it's the same thing.

 

[JaeG]

Diatomaceous Earth is a pesticide so be careful where you use it as it doesn't discriminate. But it didn't help me at all against red mites when they invaded my coop. I found thousands of them living quite happily in it which made me question it's effectiveness.

This is a good article about DE:
https://www.google.co.nz/url?q=http...RASYQFggQMAA&usg=AOvVaw1p5kBn6oUBBtpCaqxgAsA7

 

[Folly's place]

That's a good article! I use permethrin if mites or lice arrive on my birds, and don't have DE here for any reason.
Mary

 

[MageofMist]

I put some in a dustbathing spot for my birds and accidentally ended up de-miting the entire sparrow population too. I noticed mites on some of my birds so I dusted them, their bedding, nestboxes and then their dustbathing spot, which I later found that the sparrows used the same spot to dustbathe... Haven't had any mite issues since.

 

[Folly's place]

I'd like to think that the permethrin help with the wrens too, but I don't put any insecticide outside! I don't want to injure the worms, bugs, bees, and frogs out there.
Mary

 

[MageofMist]

I'd like to think that the permethrin help with the wrens too, but I don't put any insecticide outside! I don't want to injure the worms, bugs, bees, and frogs out there.
Mary

It was in a semi-sheltered spot outside in a tub on a concrete floor, and I made sure it was dry weather when I put it out and re-collected it and cleaned up any spilled dust. Still have plenty of bugs. ^^

 

[Lazy Farmer]

Hello and thanks for the welcome onto your forum.
Does anyone use this and if so, how?
Thank you in advance View attachment 1235982 View attachment 1235982 View attachment 1235982

When we raise swine for organic certified Farms, they insist on us working with DE to coincide with their organic theme. We make them sign a waiver when they pre purchase 12 to 20 piglets that if any of them were to die from worms or any other infestation that Ivermectin clearly could have prevented, they are still responsible for the balance of the batch even though they did not make it. And yes some do. Also pigs grow much much slower if their immune system is fighting off infections.
When we have tried using diatomaceous earth for treating mites on our poultry, it was an uphill battle all the way. Eventually Sevin dust or permethrin spray would conquer our task within hours not multiple applications.

To each their own. I'm not preaching. Just don't breathe in the dust! Underneath a microscope DE looks like ground up glass or fiberglass. That stuff can do some major damage to human lungs.

 

[SA&P]

• When we raise swine for organic certified Farms, they insist on us working with DE to coincide with their organic theme. We make them sign a waiver when they pre purchase 12 to 20 piglets that if any of them were to die from worms or any other infestation that Ivermectin clearly could have prevented, they are still responsible for the balance of the batch even though they did not make it. And yes some do. Also pigs grow much much slower if their immune system is fighting off infections.

When we have tried using diatomaceous earth for treating mites on our poultry, it was an uphill battle all the way. Eventually Sevin dust or permethrin spray would conquer our task within hours not multiple applications.

To each their own. I'm not preaching. Just don't breathe in the dust! Underneath a microscope DE looks like ground up glass or fiberglass. That stuff can do some major damage to human lungs.

Thank you for taking the time to reply to my question, it is appreciated.
Well, I’ve only taken delivery of one small tub of this so I won’t be reordering (I’ve also looked for more information before your reply)
I think this was a knee jerk reaction.......
buy chickens
Buy coop
Buy feed
Prevent illness/disease
* Love love my Silkies!!!
* Coop is too small!
* I’m revising their feed!
* Need more research on preventable diseases
Lesson learnt
Love it when eldest son walks down the path and my new rooster heckles him!! “”I’m telling you Mum, that cockerel’s got it in for me”” HAH