"Feed Grade" DE?

[juliatapp]

Hi, I'm new to raising chickens or raising anything but children, but I don't understand what is the DE used for?

 

[ThinkingChickens]

You sprinkle it in the run and nest boxes to reduce or prevent mites and other pests.

 

[juliatapp]

Thank you very much, I guess I had better get some of that then. My chickens are 3 months old and are in a temporary pen, while I build the permanent coop and run. They have been doing fine but I think they are getting on each others nerves. I exspect to have them in their coop/run in two days. I guess I had better get some of this DE before I put then in there. Do I need to apply the DE every so often? How much would I need to apply to an 8 X 12 run and 4 X 4 coop? The run is just dirt, is it better to have sand or pea gravel or something else. All they've ever know is dirt.

 

[ThinkingChickens]

My girls currently have dirt and they like it. I'm going to use sand in the walk in run so it's easy to clean by using a pooper scooper (think cat box). I'd sprinkle two cups in a run that size but others may have a different opinion.

 

[BoltonChicken]

The run is just dirt, is it better to have sand or pea gravel or something else. All they've ever know is dirt.

I like sand, pea gravel and dirt topped with pine shavings if the run has a roof. If not, forget the pine shavings. They love to dust bath in the dirt, and if you have sprinkled
DE on the dirt then when they take a dust bath they will de-mite themselves.

Do I need to apply the DE every so often? How much would I need to apply to an 8 X 12 run and 4 X 4 coop?

Read this: https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=1560-Food_Grade_DE​