Diatomaceous earth?!

[JessMay]

I just bought a 2.5 lb thing if diatomaceous earth.. I’m wondering what you use it for because I’ve heard it’s good to put it in their dust baths.. what exactly do you use it for and how much is a safe amount?

 

[CountryFlock]

I use it to rid of mites. They’re everywhere in my area and the only thing stopping it is me smothering my chickens in diatomaceous earth. Good stuff

Diatomaceous earth is the best mite killer.

I don’t limit how much I use so I think it’s ok. As long as it’s not all in the air and suffocating anyone.

 

[getaclue]

DE is a waste of money, and actually can be dangerous to use, since it causes respiratory ailments.

 

[JessMay]

I use it to rid of mites. They’re everywhere in my area and the only thing stopping it is me smothering my chickens in diatomaceous earth. Good stuff

Diatomaceous earth is the best mite killer.

I don’t limit how much I use so I think it’s ok. As long as it’s not all in the air and suffocating anyone.

That’s what I thought.. on the container it says not to breathe it in so I was wondering if it would be safe.. thanks for the info!

 

[CountryFlock]

The way I use it is that I get a large bowl of it and by hand rub the chicken down with it.

Yeah avoid getting it all in the air

 

[JessMay]

DE is a waste of money, and actually can be dangerous to use, since it causes respiratory ailments.

Oh wow.. did not know that. I’ve read about so many people using it for mites. My chickens take duust baths in woodchips and dirty and i wanted to give them soemthing a little better and more helpful ...

 

[CountryFlock]

DE is a waste of money, and actually can be dangerous to use, since it causes respiratory ailments.

I would say it’s not a waste of money. The mites out here got so bad that everything wooden was covered in them. Scaley mites, dead chickens.
The DE changed all that very quickly. Now you would have to try to find a mite around my chickens, if you even could.

 

[KIMEng]

I rub my girls down in it too about once a month but I'm careful not to get it airborne.

 

[The Angry Hen]

DE is a waste of money, and actually can be dangerous to use, since it causes respiratory ailments.

Agreed.

I would suggest keeping it for if your flock ever had mites or a terrible amount of mites.
To avoid mites I'll sometimes use a vinegar solution to spray in the air. DE is rather dangerous for the respiratory system... I don't use it at all, but if I did, very little at a time and not too often.

 

[webbysmeme]

I got my two 10lb. bags from AMAZON yesterday. I have removed all the straw, deep litter, now I have a dirt floor. I'm going to dust the floor, nest boxes, and roost with it while their out free ranging. I'll put fresh straw down and sweep all the large amounts of DE off the roost and walls ect... I'm putting some in the bottom of the nest boxes and the fresh straw. Does all this sound ok? I've never used it either.
I want to add sand and DE to the dust bath area in the run. Is that OK?