Diatomaceous Earth

[TubbyChicken]

I am getting about 10 chickens...how long would a 50 lb bag last me? (I'll use it in the food and litter) It will likely also get used supplementally for my 3 dogs and 3 cats. How should it be stored? Would it be safe outside in a tightly closed trash can?

 

[AllChookUp]

Tubby -

I can only tell you what my experience is. Your mileage may vary (YMMV).

I've had one 50 lb. bag since June 15th. I have 3 mature chickens and 11 8-week-old chicks. I've got about 1/4 left now. I use the DE in my deep littler, and in their feed. So, about one 50-lb bag every 3 months, or about 200 lbs. per year. Maybe less in the winter.

Here's how I store the DE: I put the bag it comes in into another large, heavy-duty plastic construction bag, then put that into a large Rubbermaid-type garbage bag. I think this keeps it contained, and safe from moisture.

Hope this helps!

 

[McGoo]

And I use much less than that. I've got 11 chickens. I only sprinkle it once a week in the coop and around the area. So I end up buying a 5 lb tub every 2 - 3 months. Maybe I'm being too light, but I can see it in the coop and in the pen and it's not gone moist so I believe it's still effective.

Oh, and my gals are free range, so there's not a whole lot of time spent in their pen. That could make a big difference.

 

[TubbyChicken]

Thank you! I wonder if I will need to continue supplementing their feed after the initial mix? (Should I treat for preventative measures, could I use it at different intervals?) I will keep it in the litter and around the run area!

 

[sundance]

I bought 50 lbs last summer and stored it in a trash can in the barn,still have about half, I only use it when Iclean the coops and I guess I don't use as much as everyone else but I love it. marrie

 

[Maryallison77]

Thanks! Now I finally know what DE stands for--haha!!!

 

[cmom]

I use DE in my coop in their run and where they like to dust bathe. In the pine shavings in their coop I sprinkle FOOD GRADE Diatomaceous Earth (DE) on the shavings. Also my roosts in my coop are over wire which allows the poop through and I sprinkle the DE over the poop too. The pine shavings are on the floor in the rest of the coop. Monthly I add some shavings and weekly I add DE. I clean my coop once a year. Once in awhile I throw some scratch on the shaving with the DE and let the chickens mix it up. They so a very good job. I have no problems with flies, stink and such. My pine shavings stay nice and dry easy to clean out. I put them in my compost pile. which every once in awhile I give a toss to keep it mixed up with the other stuff that goes in. sprinkle with water and let it cook. I move my coop and chicken yard about every 3 months approx, clean up the poop under the roost and it goes into the compost. I grow so much produce that I give most of it away or the chickens get it. My soil is low in acid so I think the pine shavings and poop are good for my soil. I store my DE in 5-gal buckets with lids.

 

[BawkinOnTheBench]

Can someone tell me the proper ratio of DE to food? I read 2%, .005 another. I tried this with my birdseed, just to kill the miller moth larvae. 2% for a 20lb bag was 6.4 oz; I used 5 oz and it looks like my birdseed has been completely DOUSED in flour. Anyone? And is it a different ratio if you just want to kill the bugs with it?