Diatomaceous Earth, WHO USES IT?

[juliemom25]

We use it every time we clean out the coop. We just sprinkle it everywhere. We have never had mites or lice (yet). We have had our chickens in their coop for a year. We buy ours at a local Amish bulk food store. It is super cheap there.

Julie

 

[ivan3]

missred871 wrote: Okay so I was considering Ag Lime to kill the stench but I have been looking up DE which I had heard about before getting poultry a couple years ago. I noticed ti was a bit high priced and you cant believe what you read when it comes to websites that sell DE because thats like believing a tv commercial for your baby can read. LMAO. Okay soooooo I want to know who uses it, what they use it for and how well it works for them.

We've had, at one time or other, both Perma Guard/Shur guard food/feed grade Amorphous Diatomaceous Earth, available at the local feed store. $24.95 for 50lb. (both brands). It is a relatively benign, relatively effective insecticide/desiccant/anti-clumping agent in feed. If it was more than $30.00 for 50lb. I'd consider other options.

If you want a jumping off point to actual research, how the stuff really kills insects, price points, etc.: https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=295586&p=1​

 

[jetrock]

No odor, no flies, great product!

 

[txchickie]

I am a huge DE fan. We get it from a local feedyard's feed mill, Perma Guard brand, and it's really cheap if you can find it locally and avoid shipping costs. I get 25lbs for $14.00 and that lasts for about 6 months.

I use it in my coop, mixed in with the shavings. I've had the same shavings in there for MONTHS and there is no smell at all. It keeps everything super dry, and dried out poop doesn't smell. I dust my broodies with it, dust the nestboxes, dust the droppings board under the roost, put it in the feed, I use the stuff everywhere.

 

[Parrotchick]

I would love to get some DE locally but haven't been able to find it anywhere. I'm willing to swallow the cost of shipping before the summer heat sets in. Anyone have any suggestions on where to order the right kind?

 

[nickandryan]

Hi-

I'm new here, and had a question about DE. I was at Meyer Hatchery. picking up the next "level" of food for the chicks, and was asking about worming meds. I had picked up a bag of the DE, and had it on the counter. The girl said if I used the DE, I would not need to worm the chickens.

My question is- is this valid information? It seems to me that it might be a good preventative, but not insurance that they would never get worms. Has anyone had any experience w/ this (BTW, I searched the forum and could not find any info on this exact subject).

Thanks, and I wanted to thank everyone on this forum- it has been an awesome resource in planning for our little flock! Laura

 

[missred871]

from what i understand if you use DE it gets rid of and prevents worms, especially if you use it in the feed. Hope that helps you.

 

[NoseyChickens]

I bought a 25lb bag months ago, you can barely see a dent in it! That stuff lats forever. I have been to feed stores that sell it by the pound too. I love it!

 

[Whimsy]

Gosh I would love to use DE, however have not been able to locate it locally. Shipping is way to expensive for me. I did find PDZ and have been using that. You all say to sprinkle it...just how much is a sprinkle? I have an 8 x 8 floor surface and have put a peanut butter jar full of PDZ on it. Is that enough?

 

[pattgal]

I have a question. does it matter whether you use pine shavings with DE or can you use hay as well