I do not think that taking DE is beneficial to myself or my chickens. However, I'm playing Devils Advocate here because I think it is important to question what we are told.
On that, at least, we do agree. (and the salt is actually good for you, unlike DE)
I am willing to bet it is not "just like eating beach sand" even though both are supposedly Silica and nothing else. Silica may indeed be the main thing in rocks (sand, which is ground rocks - didn't I read somewhere that rocks have lots of minerals in them? So for whatever you and I know, eating sand could be better! Who knows?) but not the only thing.
And, depending on your personal body chemistry, salt may not good for you at all. In fact, it's been stated many times that we get all we need w/out adding any. Therefore, I also challenge this statement.
Again, I do not believe DE is beneficial to our systems nor do I think it's beneficial to feed it to chickens. But I have yet to see any "scientific studies" that say it's not. Other than those that prove it does not kill any worms. I don't think it's appropriate to completely poo-poo anything condescendingly so and completely until proven otherwise.
It is always good to have an open mind. That applies to both sides of any argument.
