Dominique Thread!

[Kwyjibo]

I, too, enjoy the Dominiques. We have 3 pullets we bought as "day old" chicks. Actually, there were 5, but I gave 2 to a friend. I ordered javas, buckeyes, & polish in the same batch. The Dominiques are emerging as the most friendly. They're usually the first to come check things out - like the camera. I have lots of fuzzy pics of Dominique faces as they check out the lens.

One of the 26 day old Doms with a Mottled Java & others

 

[ChicwannaB]

Quote:
DE doesn't have any effect on internal parasites.

Chris

As matter of principle, I do not like to agree with Chris, although the use of DE to control internal parasites is not supported by any studies I have seen.

well Im not a pro, just a beginner, so argue with these guys:
http://wolfcreekranch1.tripod.com/defaq.html
they've been around alot longer than I have.
Thanks for input.
If it kills parasites, it can't hurt. I use it.

 

[buffalogal]

Quote:
You know what they say, there's no fool like an old fool.

Did you see what all these guys are claiming?
That DE works by slicing and scratching the exoskeleton of an insect like a flea or tick or mite, causing it to dehydrate and die.
It ALSO works on INTERNAL parasites by slicing and scratching them even though internal parasites don't have an exoskeleton, no matter, despite the fact that they are surrounded by moisture inside the body, they also miraculously dehydrate and die.
But wait, that's not all...
According to the webpage, it kills FUNGUS (how is it supposed to kill fungus?), internal parasites like hookworm, roundworm, tapeworm, external critters like mites, silverfish, ants, fire ants, caterpillars, cut worms, army worms, fleas, ticks, cockroaches, snails, spiders, termites, scorpions, lice, flies, maggots, centipedes, earwigs, slugs, aphids, Japanese beetles (grub stage), bed bugs, fruit flies, corn earworm, cucumber beetles, corn borer, sting bugs, squash vine borers and thrips. But NOT earthworms. Did I mention it prevents mastitis, increases milk production, and cleanses the colon? (so does an enema,)

But there's more:
Just a smidge over half a cup a day will not only make a horse "healthier", it will make manure smell better too!
There's a handy chart to tell you how much DE each species needs; from a 1/2 teaspoon for a kitten to 2% in the daily feed for "zoo animals". But if that's too complicated, it's okay, you can "Mix in animal feed or grain and/or feed free choice." In fact, according to the authors, "Our goats, fowl, and dogs eat it free choice." (I don't know about YOUR dogs, but mine don't willingly east dust...just sayin')

But the best part is all that goodness isn't just for your dust eating dogs; you can "mix DE in a glass of water before bed or first thing in the morning, well before breakfast, to allow diatomaceous earth time to move through and absorb toxins from ones digestive tract without interfering or absorbing nutrients from foods or liquids." So it acts like a fiber if your Grandpa drinks it. But you don't HAVE to take take it only once a day, in fact, some report "great results" consuming 1 tsp. in a glass of water prior to each meal, 3 times a day! Of course, it doesn't specify what those great results are, so one is left guessing: firmer stools, increased appetite, shiny hair, no fleas, maybe it means Grandpa's sh!t won't stink. Woot!.

IOW, if it sounds too good to be true...

I will tell you that there's no harm in using DE in the sandbox where the birds dustbathe, but ashes from a woodstove will do the same thing and they're cheaper. (as in, free)

 

[KenK]

My old dad was quite the wit. If anybody ever asked the best way to get kill fire ants, mosquitoes, roaches, etc. etc; "Put em' on an anvil and hit with a five pound hammer"

I put DE in the same boat with vinegar; my birds seem to do ok without either one so I'll continue to not give either.

 

[centrarchid]

My birds consume the equivalent of DE every day despite my not providing it in a supplemental form derived from diatoms. The daily source my birds consume is grass. If DE has any mechanical action against parasites, then the spicules in grass (which are like little splinters of glass) could easily be as effective. I bet nearly half the volume my birds consume each day is vegetative plant materials and much of that is grass.

 

[WallTenters]

We have a food grade DE mine down the road from us. You can stop on the side of the road and fill up buckets of the stuff, so we don't pay for it. We offer it free choice to the birds, they don't eat much of it, but I have seen something that looked very much like a gizzard full of DE. However, I've also seen gizzards full of glass, shavings, and anything else a chicken can cram down its throat when we've gotten free eating birds from others.

I can tell you it DOES NOT work for mites. DOES NOT. We have had a terrible, terrible time with mites this spring. We were dusting every week until about a month ago - miserable time. It is finally under control, but just one great example of being willing to use non-naturals when we come across a problem that an organic/natural solution won't solve. I would never watch my animals suffer for the great benefit of being able to say we only naturally treat them. What a crock.

So is DE bad for you? I certainly don't think so. Is it good for you? Sure, why not? I know the horses love it, and my dogs will eat it, though not every day. But, does that give you an excuse to not treat when an issue comes along? You would be a fool not to. Don't expect any miracle cures for anything, including old dead sea critters.

 

[RedDrgn]

I thought this was the thread about Doms, not DE (there are a whole lot of DE threads around the forums already).

 

[pontoosuc]

My Dominiques are the BEST mothers!!

We have two and they both went broody this summer and combined hatched out 14 babies.
Great instincts, teachers, and protectors.
And when they are not broody they lay nice little eggs and are super friendly.

 

[buffalogal]

Quote:
Sure is Red. And just to show you that I can stay on topic, let me just say I don't use DE on my Doms (or the Buckeyes, Anconas, Ameraucanas, or EEs), but I do use ashes from the woodstoves in the little hollows of soft dirt and sand they like to wallow and dustbathe in.

 

[RedDrgn]

Quote:
Sure is Red. And just to show you that I can stay on topic, let me just say I don't use DE on my Doms (or the Buckeyes, Anconas, Ameraucanas, or EEs), but I do use ashes from the woodstoves in the little hollows of soft dirt and sand they like to wallow and dustbathe in.

We use some DE in the coop to help with drying, but otherwise don't bother. Our chickies don't care one way or another so long as they have some nice fluffy dirt-like substance to roll around in....from naive dirt to sand or ashes. Our dom and wellie, especially love the ash - they both finish their romps in it looking like twins - solid gray.