Fossil DE Question

[Sadie_Jean]

I have never has chickens before but a friend gave us the 2 they had because the neighbors didn't like them. So what I need to know is; I have food grade Fossil DE, that I use in the garden for pest control. Can I use it in a coop with shaved pine, in there nesting box and in a dusting box? Also when do they start laying. They said they were around 3 1/2 to 4 months old when we got them. Our local mill sold me layer feed and said they should start laying around 21 weeks.

 

[southerndesert]

Food grade DE (fossil flour) is fine to use for that purpose and works well as long as it stays dry....

 

[Imp]

Quote:

Imp

 

[top of the hill]

I just used food grade DE in the coop, raked it right into the pine shavings and nesting boxes, so far so good!

 

[Gerry2011]

How much do you use in your shavings? My coop is 48 sq. ft.

 

[Dawn419]

Hi Gerry,

I never measure the amount that I use when sprinkling the food grade DE on the coop/run floor or in the nest boxed, I just do a light dusting.

Check out my food grade DE page to see what I mean.

Hope this is some help!

 

[Gerry2011]

Thanks, that's what I've been doing, but didn't know if I should have used more or less.

 

[Dawn419]

I go by less and add a bit more if needed, as needed, within a week and have had positive results.

Sorry to the nay-sayers, not set-up to do scientific results, just going by what I know.

And finally (after over a month of aggravation) finally got the book "Going Green Using Diatomaceous Earth How-ToTips" by Tui Rose.

So far, half of it, I'd learned by myself...the other half has been good to know, too. Well worth the money spent!