DLM to DE or not to DE this is my question!

[Tmoorie]

I am getting ready to get my chicks and start a flock!!! My hubby and I started our coop frame today! I am soooo excited! We have decided to use the DLM. I have been reading lots of differeny articles and I am up in the air about wether to use diatomacious earth or not. I am hoping for your opinions on this to help me make up my mind. Please let me know why to or why not to use DE. Thanks a bunch!!!

 

[cavemanrich]

Read this thread and maybe it will steer you where to go.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/678049/dlm-bedding-for-raised-house
And

 

[Tmoorie]

I went to the link and it talked about the deep litter method but didn't say anything about diatomacious earth. Does anyone out there use this? Thanks!

 

[matt44644]

No DE if using DLM.

 

[aart]

Ditto matt4464.

If you are going to do a DLM that is truly a composting system, you don't want to add DE as it can kill the organisms that you need to make the composting aspect work well.

I think this thread describes how DE killed their composting DLM when they added the DE the second year.

 

[Tmoorie]

Thamk you! This helped!