Diatomaceous earth

[KellyLarkin3]

Is DE good for your chickens and is it truly safe to put in a dust Bath? I read different, that it is and that it isn’t.

 

[Rose Quartz]

Safety of Diatomaceous Earth
Food-grade diatomaceous earth is safe to consume. It passes through your digestive system unchanged and does not enter the bloodstream.

However, you need to be very careful not to inhale diatomaceous earth.

Doing so will irritate your lungs much like the inhalation of dust — but the silica makes it exceptionally harmful.

Inhaling crystalline silica can cause inflammation and scarring of your lungs, known as silicosis.

This condition, which occurs most commonly in miners, caused approximately 46,000 deaths in 2013 alone

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/what-is-diatomaceous-earth

I wouldn't put it in a dust bath. But i know people do, and even recommend it to others.

 

[MandaH]

I do add it to mine, but not a lot. It did cut down on my lice issues and so far I haven't noticed any added issues with respiratory issues with my girls. However, it might be partially due to not having it be a large quantity in their dust bathe area

 

[aart]

Is DE good for your chickens and is it truly safe to put in a dust Bath? I read different, that it is and that it isn’t.

You're going to get the same mix of yes and no here.
I say no...no sense in spreading something around that could damage their lungs with no gain. DE (likely) won't kill external parasites.

 

[Ridgerunner]

As Aart said, you will get different opinions. Some people think it's the greatest thing since peanut butter and sardines on rye with yellow mustard. Others don't like it at all. Some people believe in it so strongly they swallow some daily. If it is wet it is probably harmless given the way it works. Given the way it works I also think it is useless when wet but many people truly believe in it, wet or dry. Wet DE can dry out.

I've read the OSHA requirements for working with food grade DE which is used dry. They involve respiratory protection. I'm not going to wear respiratory protection every time I walk into the coop or do something with my hens or provide respiratory protection for my hens so I don't use it.

I really do not know how safe it is for chickens. They are not going to immediately fall over dead if they if they inhale some DE. The damage, if any, will occur over time and may not be fatal, just internally damaged.

Aart I'm going to partially disagree on something. DE can reduce the numbers of mites or lice. It will not eliminate them but it will kill some. I would certainly not want to use it that thick. But then I don't want to use it at all.

Some people may tell you that they use DE and have never had mites or lice. That doesn't prove anything about DE. I don't use DE and have never had mites or lice.

I think it's a personal decision. If you decide you want to use it that's your business. But may I ask why you are thinking about adding it? We are kind of assuming it is for external parasites but that may not be the case.

 

[aart]

peanut butter and sardines on rye with yellow mustard.

Aart I'm going to partially disagree on something

Oops, forgot my wiggle word!...fixed now.

 

[Ridgerunner]

peanut butter and sardines on rye with yellow mustard

I was thinking of you when I typed this. After our discussion the other day about stealing phrases from each other, I though you'd like to know this is all mine. You can use it if you wish.

 

[KellyLarkin3]

As Aart said, you will get different opinions. Some people think it's the greatest thing since peanut butter and sardines on rye with yellow mustard. Others don't like it at all. Some people believe in it so strongly they swallow some daily. If it is wet it is probably harmless given the way it works. Given the way it works I also think it is useless when wet but many people truly believe in it, wet or dry. Wet DE can dry out.

I've read the OSHA requirements for working with food grade DE which is used dry. They involve respiratory protection. I'm not going to wear respiratory protection every time I walk into the coop or do something with my hens or provide respiratory protection for my hens so I don't use it.

I really do not know how safe it is for chickens. They are not going to immediately fall over dead if they if they inhale some DE. The damage, if any, will occur over time and may not be fatal, just internally damaged.

Aart I'm going to partially disagree on something. DE can reduce the numbers of mites or lice. It will not eliminate them but it will kill some. I would certainly not want to use it that thick. But then I don't want to use it at all.

Some people may tell you that they use DE and have never had mites or lice. That doesn't prove anything about DE. I don't use DE and have never had mites or lice.

I think it's a personal decision. If you decide you want to use it that's your business. But may I ask why you are thinking about adding it? We are kind of assuming it is for external parasites but that may not be the case.

thanks for the info, it really helped with my decision. No DE.

 

[Folly's place]

I'll add that it's open pit mined, and I doubt that the folks who mine it do well either.
Mary