Dust bath

[Loving my girls]

Yup, and gotta stop throwing flour in the air and breathing that too. Food grade DE is way different and totally safe. To each their own though. I have two macaw parrots that have had it in their cages for over 20 years and their lungs I know are just fine.

I get that, but for me it’s the mining process that’s the problem, open pit mining causes irreversible damage to the environment.

 

[Debbie292d]

I get that, but for me it’s the mining process that’s the problem, open pit mining causes irreversible damage to the environment.

https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/m...te is usually mined in,may have to be removed.

 

[Loving my girls]

https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/mining/raise-your-glass-to-diatomite/#:~:text=Diatomite is usually mined in,may have to be removed.

https://sustainability-success.com/why-is-open-pit-mining-so-devastating-to-the-environment/

I think it will be best if we agree to differ here.

 

[nuthatched]

OMG !!!
I didn’t know that, so it goes against all my principles, I am trying to save the planet rather than contribute to its demise !!!
I have nearly finished my current box and I sure as peas are peas I won’t be buying another.
Thank you so much Nuthatched for this information

You're welcome, I was surprised when I found it out too. Actually, many 'green' products aren't actually environmentally friendly, in the long run. Just have to double check.

 

[BDutch]

It is. Osha Class 3, Generally Regarded As Safe if used within minimum exposure.

But, unfortunately, it's not good for you or especially your birds to breath. The continuous breathing of fine dust in birds causes scar tissue in the bronchial junction, leading to increased difficulty breathing, respiratory distress and suffocation.
It's barely mediocre for mite and lice control and it's harvesting by strip, i.e open pit mining, which is not environmentally friendly. So, unfortunately, it's not safe, effective or good for the planet.

Maybe is you overexpose your chickens?

I’m using DE for 8+ years now. I have 3 chickens who are (almost) 9 years old. They never had respiratory problems.

I use the DE mixed with sand under the hay in the nestboxes. As a paint on the walls and roosts (thick at the joints) and mixed with sand in the sandbath.
This way it is SAFE!

 

[FeatherToes0328]

The thing is that the abrasiveness of DE is so small that it only hurts the tiniest of creatures which is why it is great for killing mites and fleas.

Other than that you can look up videos on people who actually eat/drink it daily for health benefits. So...

I have a neighbor who puts DE in her dogs' food to prevent intestinal parasites/worms.

 

[Mouthpear]

DE does not kill adult mites and flees. It only kills the young larvae . Therefore its not easy to eliminate a mite or flee infestation with DE.

Ok let this sink in. If you kill all the future adults and by reason don't let them grow to adults then you will eventually get rid of the problem. Get it?

 

[BDutch]

Ok let this sink in. If you kill all the future adults and by reason don't let them grow to adults then you will eventually get rid of the problem. Get it?

Yes, thats the way for red mites for sure.
Start with cleaning thoroughly.
Catch and check the adult red mites with corrugated paper rolls attached under the roost daily. Corrugated paper rolls are a hiding space for red mites during the day. Kill any mites in it in a microwave (just 15 secs).
Use DE as a paint on the roosts/walls where they hang out/sleep. Mix it in the sand in the dustbath. Add DE with sand it under the bedding in the nest-boxes.

During the summer I give herbal supplements too since the last infestation. It makes the blood less tasty and the chickens like it.

 

[Mouthpear]

To all. The only difference between DE grade for humans, food grade for animals and pasture grade is the additives. Food grade for humans is sold by the Oz. It is more pure. The diatoms never change in size. They are tiny little creatures. It is the additives that manufactures add to bulk up the volume that make the difference. While farm animals can digest and consume grass, dung, dirt, and many other things that manufactures add WE CAN'T. These fillers while beneficial to farm animals WE can't digest. Or are not beneficial to us. That is the difference.

So in all actually you can consume farm grade DE but it will not taste good or be beneficial to humans. Some have fertilizer that you don't want to digest.

So get the regular ole DE for livestock at tractor supply and be ok with it for dust baths.

 

[Mouthpear]

Yes, thats the way for red mites for sure.
Start with cleaning thoroughly.
Catch and check the adult red mites with corrugated paper rolls attached under the roost daily. Corrugated paper rolls are a hiding space for red mites during the day. Kill any mites in it in a microwave (just 15 secs).
Use DE as a paint on the roosts/walls where they hang out/sleep. Mix it in the sand in the dustbath. Add DE with sand it under the bedding in the nest-boxes.

During the summer I give herbal supplements too since the last infestation. It makes the blood less tasty and the chickens like it.

So you agree that killing the babies will eventually kill the future pests.? Yes?