I have a question on DE???

[dawg53]

Quote: Tell us, what is toxic about DE? What does your vet say about DE being used to worm your dogs?

 

[Michael Apple]

DE will work, but you cannot expect the 8% DE sold in tractor supply to be the one you use, and have it work. The important thing to know is that when it is diluted, especially with clay, it reduces the effectiveness of it. De works because it dehydrates the parasites, thus killing them. This stuff is expensive, and must be pure to work. It must also be food grade, or it will be toxic and will kill them.
I have used it to de worm dogs as well, and within 12 hours after use, you can see the same "end results" as a chemical wormer.
There should always be a test run first, no matter what animal or problem, as you don't want to waste time you don't have treating the wrong thing. For a bad infestation, you may want or need to consider a chemical to get it under control first, but when it is, DE will work as a preventative.

Why would you use a "chemical" to get it under control if diatomaceous earth works? That makes no sense. If DE is ineffective when wet, how do you expect it to dehydrate the worms in the intestines of a chicken? Even if it did, excessive amounts would need to be used and it will impact the intestines of the bird, thus dehydrating the bird and being susceptible to a secondary infection. DE does not work for worms. Every reputable poultry source will tell you this. Even the few herbal wormers on the market may fill someone's pocket with money and reduce the amount of worms, but they do not rid the bird of worms.

 

[ctfeathers]

I use it as a preventative, because I have found it helps. But I don't trust anything to be 100%, so I make sure to follow up with a vet. And if I actually have a problem, or infestation, I use the chemical or meds.
I think of if like vitamin c, I may drink more oj if i feel I'm coming down with a cold because it helps. But I don't expect it to cure everything. DE works. But chemicals work faster. I just try to find a balance.

 

[ctfeathers]

 

[ctfeathers]

inneffective when wet? Uh, no. Never heard or seen that. DE is unaffected by water. The clay cheap companies use to dilute the product is what is affected by water. DE is harvested from the ocean.
DE is not a chemical, or an herbal "remedy" it works because it is abrasive microscopically. It abraded and sucks out the moisture from simple parasites, like worms, fleas, slugs, etc. pour it on a slug or a wasp, and you will see it working. It takes a bit longer to work for this reason. It is not a poison. The only time it is toxic, is when chemicals are added to it, like pool grade DE, for example. And, it is also not new. It was used before we had the chemicals in the first place.

 

[lbchickens9]

Does everyone worm their chickens as a preventative or when worms are seen in the poop? If preventative, how often?

 

[ctfeathers]

Tell us, what is toxic about DE?  What does your vet say about DE being used to worm your dogs?

Pool grade and non food grade DE have chemicals, like chlorine for one, added to them to make them more effective. Pool grade is used in pool filters for treating the water. This would kill a chick. The problem isn't the DE, it's the additives.
The cheaper companies dilute it because they can sell it easier for $8 a 10lb bag, rather than $25-28 a 10lb bag.
As for the vet, she was the one who suggested it to me, to work with the flea medicine I was already using when I still lived in SC. We had just bought a house, and had a huge flea problem in the yard and house, as did the entire area. We treated the yard with the non food grade using a grass spreader, and treated the carpets and couches with the food grade, then vacuumed it up after a day or two. Within a week we had a dramatic difference in the yard, and after the season was over, we had fewer problems with pests in general, including Mosquitos. Prior to using it on the yard, you could see the fleas jumping as you walked. Within a week, that had changed.
For worming, she said it was supposed to work, but still do follow up fecals. I don't know if the lack of problems is due to DE on that one or not, we haven't had a problem In 5 years now, but we have a sample run every 6 months when we are in there for routine stuff. No issues.

 

[Michael Apple]

Does everyone worm their chickens as a preventative or when worms are seen in the poop? If preventative, how often?

I worm a couple times a year in Spring and Winter. Some people worm more frequently in the South where it is warmer with more humidity. It is a good practice to use the broadest spectrum wormer, but different ones as to not allow worms to build a resistance.

 

[dawg53]

I use it as a preventative, because I have found it helps. But I don't trust anything to be 100%, so I make sure to follow up with a vet. And if I actually have a problem, or infestation, I use the chemical or meds.
I think of if like vitamin c, I may drink more oj if i feel I'm coming down with a cold because it helps. But I don't expect it to cure everything. DE works. But chemicals work faster. I just try to find a balance.

Please read this thread and pay particular attention to what Bear Foot Farm has to say about DE and learn about it.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/614352/dumb-question-about-de

 

[Mtn Laurel]

Maybe it's just me but I have to wonder about feeding any animal a product designed to rid them of worms via abrasive action. What does this do to the innards of the animal you're feeding it to? I'd think their entire digestive system would be subjected to the same abrasive action.

Probably just me but it sure makes me wonder.