I just got my DE...now what do I use it for?

[Southern28Chick]

I know stupid question. I know that I add it to feed but what else can I use it for? I bought it from gardenharvestsupply.com for 9.00 for a 5 lb bag. I bought 15 lbs. It's really white!!! Is it supposed to be white? It says food grade.

 

[Blondie]

Sprinkle it in the food, sprinkle it around the coop, sprinkle it in the areas they like to take a dust bath, sprinkle it in their nests.

I only do it about once a week. That's IMHO.

 

[speckledhen]

Get an old fashioned bath powder puff and use it to dip into the DE with and dust chicken tushies for bugs, LOL. Sprinkle it in the nestboxes where they sit for long periods and under the roost. Yep, it's supposed to be glaringly white!

 

[MissPrissy]

Put it everywhere.

 

[SandraChick]

my sister uses a flower sifter to get it all over the coop and in their favorite dusting areas.....clever idea! It makes for a nice even spread!

If you freerange....you might want to add some to their treats as well. Mine hardly eat any feed, so the worming part wasn't working until I added it to their treats. I aim for 2tsp per bird perd day...aim is the key word!

Sandra

 

[jessied1227]

I put it everywhere, too.

Its in the cats' food, the dog's food, the chickens' feed, the coop, nestboxes the dog box, the yard, EVERYWHERE, lol.

No ticks on the kids in over three weeks

Jess

 

[Wolfpacker]

Um . . . What's "DE"?

 

[SandraChick]

Diatomaceous Earth....use only food grade...not garden or pool grade.

Jess- you can put it out TOO much....it kills all the good insects too...inlcuding bees --so if you have a garden, use it only there as you really need to.

OH...my dogs and cats get it too!

Sandra

 

[jessied1227]

Yeah - I did use it pretty heavy in the yard right around the house, the kids were bringing in 1-3 ticks a DAY and the dog was just plagued by them, even with the Frontline.

Our land was heavy woods until we develpoed it, so the ticks were just everywhere.

We only used it in the garden where we were seeing problems, like on the turnips and the cabbage

It is possible to over do it, so I try to keep it just in the close yard area where the kids play.

Jess

 

[Southern28Chick]

Do I feed it to my cats and dog or do I dust them with it?

If you freerange....you might want to add some to their treats as well. Mine hardly eat any feed, so the worming part wasn't working until I added it to their treats. I aim for 2tsp per bird perd day...aim is the key word!

My chickens aren't really considered "free range" but they do have a 40'x50' fenced yard/run and they don't eat much feed. My rooster doesn't eat ANY feed. He eats just bugs and grass and that's mostly it other than whatever treats he doesn't give to the girls. I guess I'll put the DE on the treats too. 2 tsp per bird per day!!!! That's like 48 tsp!!!​