Food grade DE for horses

[miss_thenorth]

Really, and I do apologize if my post set you off, but I am just going by what I have been told, and by what I have read on this forum My neighbour started using /DE in her barn, and putting it where her horses rolled and she noticed less flies and odour. I haven't used it as I haven't had my horses in the summer yet--just got them in Sept. haven't found much info on the net, except for the ppl who are trying to sell it.

"I meant in the summer to keep down bugs--this would work--no?"

I was asking a question here, didn't think it warranted such a (IMO), rude response. I am here to learn, as well, not be belittled.

I found this article, posted in another thread when I first came to this sight. I did not read the whole thing, but I did read the part where it is used in barns and stalls.
http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/grsc_subi/...ure_slides/GRSC651_lect_20(1)_Inert_Dusts.pdf

I have read numerous times that DE has been used successfully in barns, plus my neighbour's experience. I will humbly stand corrected if I am wrong, but I will try DE myself this summer and draw my own conclusions.

I was just trying to pass on info that I have gathered. I don't have a university degree and consider myself an expert in nothing. I do have a desire to learn, though, and also to help others if I can.

Like I said, if I am wrong, then I humbly stand corrected.

Quietly staying out of this discussion now.
Regards

http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/grsc_subi/Teac … _Dusts.pdf


edited to correct link

ok, it's not working--found it posted by DHLUNICORN, 9.27.2007 under feeding time

 

[patandchickens]

I know some people say Avon Skin-so-soft repels flies for them... but that has certainly not been my experience. Perhaps some places y'all have wimpier flies or something ;P I know that several years ago there was discussion on several horse forums about different formulations of skin-so-soft, so it is possible we're using different versions, too.

I would personally NEVER use the feed-thru fly control supplements. The older ones contain fairly toxic organophosphate pesticides that I really really do not think it's likely to be a good thing to be dosing animals with each and every single day, no matter *what* the manufacturer says; and with the new insect growth regulator ones, to me the jury is still really out on their long-term safety. Furthermore, a low daily dose is just a *recipe* for breeding resistance in fly populations, and we really do not need pesticide-resistant flies if you ask me ;P

To each his own, of course

Pat

 

[patandchickens]

Miss_thenorth, I apologize for whatever it was that you found rude, but honestly I would appreciate it if you told me what that WAS, 'cuz I sure can't see it (unless it was putting 'really' in italics, which was only meant to indicate a reluctant way of saying it but I guess could have been taken in some other way).

(edited to add, there is a big difference between use of DE in stables (which is what that document mentions) versus its use on horses or in outdoor pens (which is what I understood the original question to be about, and which I have still never seen DE recommended for, most likely for the practical reasons given above). I am sorry if you do not want like being disagreed with, but the original poster did ask for information, which means that you and I *both* get to contribute, right? Be annoyed at me if you want, but I do apologize.)

Pat

 

[helmstead]

I'm with Pat on this one.

We've had great success with fly predators. Good stuff. I can't imagine the amount of DE you'd need to control bugs around horses. I certainly wouldn't use it as parasite control.

I must have the same spinach eating flies that Pat does.

Our fly program is as follows:
predators
Repel xP at a 5:1 ratio for daily application and ride applications
fly masks with ears
roll on fly repellent for the face UNDER the masks
swat along the midline daily against midges

My neighbor also uses the spot on fly repellent on her Sec A Welshies and swears they work. For me, not so much.

Also, I've found all the body meshes do is make my horses hot and give them something to tear up. They offer no protection from the midges that we have really badly here (attack the midline) which are my highest priority along side face flies.

 

[GwenFarms]

See it's all so confusing. What works for one person never seems to work for another. One friend of ours has a huge horse operation, generally keeps upwards of 30 fantastically fat horses at all times. He spent thousands on fly predators last year and they failed miserably. Another nearby horseman used them for his smaller operation and he had no luck either, but one of our vets swears they are the greatest thing ever.

I would never use the food additive either, even though I brought it up, simply because I try to go organic, but I was just putting it out there.

I don't like DE. Despite what some folks are saying, I can only imagine what it does to bees. I've been researching this and I think its pretty dangerous stuff for them. They are designed to pick up stuff like this....it is going back to the hive with them if they are anywhere near it. If you aren't aware of the bee crisis that this country, heck, the world, is facing, read up on it. Be careful with any pesticides, organic, or otherwise.

I personally guarantee (or your money back

) that skin so soft WILL work if you add a little pyrmethrin and baby oil. I leave out the pyrmetherin these days and it is still effective, not as, or as long, but still effective. If you add that pyrmethrin its the best stuff ever, but because I'm trying to get away from yucky stuff I leave it out now. Before you ask, yes it does work better with skin so soft than by itself.

 

[kbarrett]

Quote:
The first large outfit I worked for was an Arab showing barn..maybe 15 years ago. We had 60 stalls all with an automatic fly spraying system that worked on a timer. The barn owner thought it was the best thing since sliced bread. I hated the whole thing, I can't tell you how many times I got that junk sprayed on me or was in the middle of something and couldn't escape to the aisle to breath. I felt so bad for the stall muckers as they spent their whole morning getting doused. There was always a film over the water in the buckets....

Can't have been good for man or beast!
One of my friends spends a fortune to have his place sprayed each year.....though he won't admit it he has the same amount of flies as I do

At the racetrack the trainer's father had the five stalls next to me. He felt the fly sex traps were the best thing ever, kept on in each stall. In the summertime (fly season) we had industrial fans at the end of the shedrows, he was on the end and my 7 stalls were in the middle.....the smell almost killed me. My 3rd summer working there, I was pregnant. While I was lucky enough to not have morning sickness, however I did embelish on my natural gag reaction to his fly traps and he kindly took them down not wanting to aggravate my morning sickness

I'm not proud of the underhandness of my deceit however how much sense does it make to ATTRACT what you want to go away? Not all the flies made it into his traps!
For my place, I keep the stalls as clean as possible, lots of picking piles, manure gets dumped well away from the barn, wheelbarrow gets hosed after use. I use the cheap fly spray, usually Bronco, Skin So Soft has never worked for me or my horses. When heading into deep woods myself and my mount get deep woods off.
So hey, here's another opinion for you....

Over the years I've come to realize that if you ask 10 people the same question you will get at least a dozen different answers lol

 

[GwenFarms]

Quote:

I've seen those. They smell like something has died!...

I don't blame you, sometimes underhandedness is called for in dire circumstances.

 

[Wildsky]

I'll try anything to HELP keep flies away, I've been using DE all winter - no flies in winter, but I've sprinkled or pretty much put a LAYER of DE down twice, I sprinkle around outside where the poop is, even though the poop is scooped - its getting dumped on the edge of the property and I want the DE to go with it.

I will continue to use DE in the barn and all around the property (well not all around, we have 3 acres) but where the animals live.