How Much DE to dustbath?

[ClareScifi]

I'm going to buy some food grade shell flour (diatomaceous earth) to put in the chickens' dust bath area. How much of it should I apply to the dirt, and do I need to cover it with pine shavings or just mix it in with my hand?

How often do I need to reapply it, if it doesn't rain?

I have just 2 hens and they share one small dust bath area.

Thanks for your help,

Clare

 

[Judy]

It should be used sparingly, just a dusting, as it is so irritating to lungs. It will not give a complete kill. I prefer poultry dust, usually permethrins, sometimes with pyrethrin.

 

[ClareScifi]

Thanks for the reply. How much of that permythrin do you use in their dustbath? Or do you dust them with it another way?