Diatomaceous Earth

[Binki]

I have added a bit of DE in a sand bath of a wild baby bird crawling with mites as well as to a group of quail I bought that had feather lice.

The DE worked and killed the bird mites and lice with no residual chemicals. It cuts the bug's exoskeleton causing them to dry out and die. It's not immediate like a poison but I will continue to use it until I discover a better natural solution.

Food grade DE can be ingested up to 2% and it is sometimes added in feed to kill bugs and keep it dry as it's super absorbent. If you eat it, it's like consuming dust, it's not going to shred you up inside.

There have been studies of horses and dogs ingesting it to get rid of internal parasites.

I have never actually thought about how it's processed but always assumed since it was natural that it was better for everyone and thing involved since it is not a pesticide/chemical.

 

[RogueHomesteader]

I had sick chickens and after feeding them DE, they started to do much better.

 

[Mtn Laurel]

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...

DE is the WORST thing you can add to true Deep Litter. It kills the bacteria and tiny critters that makes deep litter break down and work. See link to one of my favorite threads regarding deep litter and what occurred when he added DE to it after the first year. Quite telling!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...eep-litter-method.643302/page-3#post-10931808

 

[Binki]

DE is the WORST thing you can add to true Deep Litter. It kills the bacteria and tiny critters that makes deep litter break down and work. See link to one of my favorite threads regarding deep litter and what occurred when he added DE to it after the first year. Quite telling!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...eep-litter-method.643302/page-3#post-10931808

Oh yeah I totally agree if someone understands DE, it would be obviously counter productive to add it to deep litter because in that case, you want the critters

 

[Folly's place]

Besides, deep litter will be damp, if it's on dirt, and damp DE is useless. Mary

 

[ZeeAviatrix]

DE is the WORST thing you can add to true Deep Litter. It kills the bacteria and tiny critters that makes deep litter break down and work. See link to one of my favorite threads regarding deep litter and what occurred when he added DE to it after the first year. Quite telling!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...eep-litter-method.643302/page-3#post-10931808

Thank you, Mtn Laurel, for adding a link which was most interesting! There is nothing like someone experiencing what you are asking about to know which way to go! I'm staying away from DE.

 

[Ronnie2]

I bought my Buff Opingtons when they were almost a year old, said the seller. He also said they were raised in a dog kennel, on a concrete floor. One hen came with a nasty butt. I did a search and read that the runs could be caused by intestinal worms, and mentioned trying DE. I found after I bought it, it was used for cats, & dogs fur, for fleas, ticks, lice, what ever. If a dog can breathe it biting fleas, it can't be too bad for chickens. It came in a 2-pound jug of DE, I put 1/4-cup into the layer feed tray, once a week. No more nasty butt, and not any poop on the eggs. Happy I tried it.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Why is anyone feeding DE to chickens????

When feeding DE to your flock, the intent is to kill the internial paracites that chickens are plagued by. Never mind that chickens are much like humans, at least like us humans in so far as our water content is concerned.

Several people who use or sware by DE have already testified that wet DE is useless for its intended purpose of killing internial paracites. Am I missing something here or is it just me?.

 

[Ronnie2]

As mentioned above that I put dry DE in my dry chicken, organic food. I also put organic apple cider vinegar, with mother in the chicken water.

 

[Ronnie2]

I bought my Buff Opingtons when they were almost a year old, said the seller. He also said they were raised in a dog kennel, on a concrete floor. One hen came with a nasty butt. I did a search and read that the runs could be caused by intestinal worms, and mentioned trying DE. I found after I bought it, it was used for cats, & dogs fur, for fleas, ticks, lice, what ever. If a dog can breathe it biting fleas, it can't be too bad for chickens. It came in a 2-pound jug of DE, I put 1/4-cup into the layer feed tray, once a week. No more nasty butt, and not any poop on the eggs. Happy I tried it.