Help-- !! Urgent!!! Diatomaceous Earth Dust issues....

[s6bee]

Back to main subject if I may..... I need to add DE to my coop. Does it need to be dusted on a bare floor then shavings added or just lightly mixed in with the shavings? Also if I decide to add to thier food for worming, how much to add? I usually give them a scoop of feed in a gallon sized pitcher, I can mix it then. What's the ratio?

Thanks

 

[spatcher]

2 1/2 pounds per 50 pounds and figure down from there. Initially, sprinkle it on the top and let the chickens turn it over. If they dont, sprinkle on top when it gets "poopy", and turn it with a small rake or something when it gets covered again. Repeat when necessary.

 

[NYREDS]

For what it's worth I used to be a Child Protective Investigator-if I had received a report of the conditions described at the beginning of this thread it's likely that I would have removed the children from the home & taken the parent to court for neglect.

 

[suebee]

That's a pretty tough statement there, NYREDS. No need to be so harsh.

Don't think there's anything wrong with the chicks in the girls bedroom if they're in a confined area like a rubbermaid box.

 

[MissPrissy]

 

[hoosierhen]

If children are being taken away because of dust then I'll bet a lot of us are in trouble! The next thing you know, sand boxes will be outlawed, and kids won't be allowed to play in the dirt! Now that is a tradgedy!! It's so much healthier for them to sit in a clean room watching TV all day, and eating junk! Momma-Cluck obviously cares a great deal for her daughter, as she voiced her concern and asked for info. about DE. She also stated that she DUSTED EVERYTHING the night before. If she's like me, I had no idea how much dust chickens make! A heck of a lot!!

 

[spatcher]

WOW!

 

[chiknwhisperer]

WOW !!!! That IS really harsh! I should would be in trouble. My cat makes as much dust running around sometimes as the three chickies I have in a rubbermaid box.

Anyway,, to the question I wanted to ask. My other chickens ARE outside in their coop. Do they need DE????

 

[setter4]

Quote:
I had a mite problem and contacted the county extension office . They sent my mites to Penn State and PSU called me yesterday to tell me they were bird mites. They told me that the best thing to sue was insecticidal soap . You can use it on the coop and the chooks. They said even a plain water wash is usually enough to interrupt the life cycle of mites.
I told him I had already used DE and he said that's fine but not neccesary and he also told me that Sevin is ineffective as a miteicide (sp).
It did take them almost a week to get back to me with the holiday so I pretty much had things under control myself but I thought the info was interesting.
I don't think you need DE or anything unless you have reason to think you have a problem.

 

[chiknwhisperer]

Thank you!!! I check them regularly for buggies. They always look good.