Grease sweep for mites?

[eric in oregon]

Just wondering if I can use this stuff for the hens bath. I have bags of "Floor-Dry" made for cleaning up spills in an automotive repair shop. It says at the top of the bag "100% Diatomaceous Earth". It's not a fine powder, about 1/8" pieces, but I could crush it into powder if needed. The reason I ask is a 25 lb bag is only $5.00, much less than the small bags in the poultry section of the local feed stores.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I wouldn't use it on my hens. But I am in the anti DE camp.. Consider it an ineffective, strip mined, false sense of security that creates damage and harm of its own. Not welcome at my house, around my birds, family, or other pets.

Anyways, if you have mites... I suggest you use something that works. Permethrin spray is my preferred application because it easy, affordable, effective, labeled for use in chickens and requires NO withdrawal for eggs if used according to directions. It also works for other things like like mosquitoes, fleas and such. This bottle last my 2 large goats, 3 medium dogs, and 82+ birds for 2 years at under $8 in the equine section at my local feed store. I bought it for my goats and the mosquitoes but discovered it's other uses.

https://www.horse.com/item/fly-rid-plus-spray/E006407/

I live in the Pacific Northwest, where wildlife abounds. So do the other challenges that come with it. I love it here!

People who do use DE.. I imagine would say you should use food grade. The automotive might be similar to pool grade and may have more silica or whatever the harmful stuff to breath is..

Good luck.

 

[snow5164]

Ok then,
I’d make sure without a doubt that it’s FOOD grade, so sure that you’d eat it !!

I am a fan of de use it in my barn for moisture, flys and itchy skin on my cows . Works great and no I don’t snort it I wear a mask !i but a 50 pound bag at the feed store for $16.00

I add it to dry feed and sprinkle it in my nesting boxes on top of sand . Never wormed my hens and never had a smelly coop,

This is a hot button topic ( incase you didn’t notice )