How do you 'dust' with DE?

[gabby3535]

My chickens have DE added to their feed, and it is also added to the pine shavings in their coop.............
but I read here that some folks 'dust' their roosts and nest boxes with DE as well.
Not to sound 'too' ignorant, but, how, exactly do you 'dust'?
Do you just sprinkle by hand, or is there a 'duster' of some sort?
Thanks!

 

[Judy]

Just find a can/jar with a lid that has holes or that you can make holes in. Used to be easy when jars had metal lids! An empty Kraft parmesan cheese container would work. I bought some garden dust in a shake-on container so I'd have a DE shaker when empty. Cheese shakers sold with kitchen gadgets should work.

 

[OrpingtonHopeful]

Quote:
Where do you get your DE and does it have to be a special kind? Food grade?

How often should it be applied, and how liberally?

Thanks!

 

[patandchickens]

I use the same sock I use to dust the birds themselves if they get mites. It's an old and somewhat threadbare sock, thus easy for DE to sift out the 'pores', and I put a cup or so of DE in and tie a knot and there ya go.

Use food-grade DE only.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[NashChic]

Are there concrete guidelines for how much DE to spread around in the bedding or do you just throw some around. I've had my Food Grade DE sitting in my garage for a week cuz I just don't know how to use it

 

[CoyoteMagic]

I just fling it! Anything in the path of my fling gets covered. Chickens, roosts, nestboxes, dog, etc.....

If it's covered in white, it's right!!

 

[Haley_LinckHillPoultry]

When I dust 'em I throw it right outside in the dirt, because chickens dust themselves, so they'll get right in it and dust it all over.

 

[LilRalphieRoosmama]

Miss Prissy told me to put DE in the leg of a pantyhose or knee-high; knot it and it worked well.

 

[Mahonri]

DE makes coop cleanup a breeze.

After sweeping and mopping our linoleum each week, we shake the dust all over the floor and then add pine shavings. My son says if you dust it when it's still wet it makes it easier for next time.... and I have to agree. And then we just add a little to the feed and mix it... (less than 2%)

 

[crazy huhn]

I use mine with a flour sifter and it works great.