how, where, how much and why do you use DE?

DE (food grade) is a wonderful product if you can get it. I bought mine at the local feed mill of Atlantic Co-Op, where the food master uses it in approved Co-Op feed. I bought 50 pounds and I expect it to last at least 6 months for 12 birds. I treated the planks over concrete in our coop with sprinkling of DE and I add it to fresh shavings. I also use 2-4 cups a week for sprinkling around the perimeter of our roofed run, to keep insects and ticks from crossing the barrier to the birds. It's a good deodorizer too. I wouldn't be without it now.
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We purchased a 50# bag and have been using it. Seems to be helping with the smell, ants and so far all types of bugs.

I took my husbands hand held spreader and sprinkled inside and outside the run and all over the run. I think the spreader holds about 5 cups, but I have a large run and coop.

Make sure to get Food Grade DE. I also read someplace that you have to replace it after a rain becaue it will wash away.
 
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I use pine shavings and I sprinkle FOOD GRADE Diatomaceous Earth (DE) on the shavings. Also my roosts in my coop are over wire which allows the poop through and I sprinkle the DE over the poop too. The pine shavings are on the floor in the rest of the coop. Monthly I add some shavings until I have approx 4/6in, and weekly I add more DE. I clean my coop once a year. Once in awhile I throw some scratch on the shavings and let the chickens mix it up. They do a very good job. I have no problems with flies, stink and such. My pine shavings stay nice and dry easy to clean out. I put them in my compost pile. which every once in awhile I give a toss to keep it mixed up with the other stuff that goes in. sprinkle with water and let it cook. I move my coop and chicken yard about every 3 months approx, clean up the poop under the roost and it goes into the compost. I grow so much produce that I give most of it away. My soil is low in acid so I think the pine shavings are good for my soil. I usually buy the pine shavings at my local feed store. They were out before, so I have bought some in the pet department at Wal-Mart.

I think this is the site where I bought my DE. I bought 50lbs which I store in 5 gal buckets with lids. http://www.internet-grocer.net/diatome.htm
 
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WOW! Those shipping charges are obscene!

I'm not sure that is where we got it. My husband ordered it because the feed stores in our area don't carry it.
 

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