Diatomaceous Earth

[RogueHomesteader]

I have DE that does not safe "food grade" but it is intended for use in the coop. Is it okay to feed to my chickens or should I purchase food grade DE. The current DE I have is Manna Pro Pure DEfense.

 

[The Angry Hen]

Hello There,

Welcome to Backyard Chickens! Hm...
I do not use either, but I would use food grade if I had to.

Hope this helps!
-The Angry Hen

 

[RogueHomesteader]

Hello There,

Welcome to Backyard Chickens! Hm...
I do not use either, but I would use food grade if I had to.

Hope this helps!
-The Angry Hen

Thanks!

 

[Suzi18]

Food grade

 

[Folly's place]

There's no reason to feed it to your birds at all! Mary

 

[ZeeAviatrix]

I have read on other posts that people add DE to pine shavings in the deep litter method. What is DE exactly? And what are the benefits to adding it to pine shavings? Thank you...

 

[chickengeorgeto]

I have read on other posts that people add DE to pine shavings in the deep litter method. What is DE exactly? And what are the benefits to adding it to pine shavings? Thank you...

Food grade DE is dead, fossilized, alga that has been run through a metering plant with the intention of removing as much of the organic material (think dirt and clay) as is practical.

The intended purpose of food grade DE is for the factory to remove as many people as possible from from their pocket books, I don't know if paying good money for a useless product is something that you'll endorse but at least now you can go into owning or buying DE with a better understanding of what you are getting yourself and your chickens into.

 

[Folly's place]

The mining and processing of this product is not good for either the environment or the people doing the work, and as used in the coop, is bad for everyone to inhale. Just avoid it, and keep your chickens' and your lungs safer. Mary

 

[AnnieSantiago]

Why is anyone feeding DE to chickens????

 

[Folly's place]

There's a lot of very good information here and on the internet, and then there's also a lot of 'fantasy' information, or maybe 'alternative facts'! The idea is to figure out which is which. Mary