Help with DE needed, please!

[richndonna]

Somehow I have lost my notes on how to mix my DE in with my chicken feed. It was in the form of so many cups of DE to so many cups of food. I put the food into 5 gallon buckets to feed out of. I have tried searching the forum since that is where I found the information but have not had any success in finding it again.
Can you also give me the measurements for ACV in water?
Thanks,
Donna
You all are the best! We have been lurking since Aug. when someone dumped our feathered friends on the side of the road. Backyard Chickens has had answers to our questions for our new friends.

 

[jerseygirl1]

The DE, I have a hanging feeder and whenever I fill it, I sprinkle some in it, so meuch for measuring.....
The ACV, I use 2 tbsp per gallon

 

[sonew123]

1 cup per 50lb bag of food

 

[ChookHappy]

Hey, just curious what adding DE to their feed does for them. I use it in the coop and run but I have yet to feed it to them.

 

[gsim]

Quote:
Supposed to kill parasites if they are not a large colony already. Will not kill off a large colony from what I have read on this forum.

 

[ChookHappy]

Quote:
Supposed to kill parasites if they are not a large colony already. Will not kill off a large colony from what I have read on this forum.

Isn't it useless once it's wet? I'm assuming it would moisten once ingested.

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

Quote:
Supposed to kill parasites if they are not a large colony already. Will not kill off a large colony from what I have read on this forum.

Isn't it useless once it's wet? I'm assuming it would moisten once ingested.

That's correct.
The only USEFUL reason to put DE in feed is to kill insects in the feed itself, and to help keep it dry.
It has no effect on internal parasites

 

[KKatknap]

Be absolutely certain you are using food grade DE! There is a huge difference between regular and food grade. You mustn't feed regular DE to anything.

The food grade is said to come from fossilized shells...I don't pretend to know much about it (I really came here to learn more). It seems like getting that wet wouldn't render it useless, being that it's fossilized(?)

Again, I'm still trying to learn more...just wanted to make sure we are all talking about the food-grade DE.

 

[ginasmarans]

I don't know how effective it is against internal parasites. I use it but haven't tested it for that. I use it mainly because it seems to promote feather growth and makes the eggs nice and hard. It works better than oyster shells for me.

 

[TexasChickenDance]

Is food -grade de grayish looking? We use regular de which is white in out pool system