If I buy a 5lb bag of DE

[birdy_num_nums]

and will have an 8x8 coop and large run (square footage yet to be determined) for 11 chooks, how long will the bag last me? Yes, that is FIVE pound (not 50).

This is all new to me (# of chooks, use of DE, size of coop, etc.) and don't want to buy too much in case I don't think DE is doing much for me. But I also don't want to buy too little and not give DE a fair chance.

Suggestions? How fast do you all go through a 50lb bag?

 

[MissPrissy]

Depends on how much you need to use it as well as how you use it. A 50lb bag will last me 3/4 of a year. I use it more in summer than any other time.

 

[dixygirl]

I think i mix about 3-5 pounds in the pine shavings in a 10x10 for one application. :|

So it won't last very long at all.
My 50 pound bag is almost gone. But I have 4 outdoor animal houses as well as indoor animals.

 

[spatcher]

Thats an awful lot of DE for one application! Holy Cow!

 

[Wildsky]

Yeah I would say it won't last long. I have a 20x7 coop and went through about 70 pounds in a year. I do also sprinkle it in the horse barn and pasture area. (as well as my veggie garden etc.)

 

[kees]

I bought a 50 lb bag and kept most of it the basement with two dehumidifiers running at all times. One bag was kept outside in a huge Rubbermaid container so that it was availabe whenever I needed it. It's been a year and I still have a little more than 50 lbs. left. I don't know what your situation is, but I saved a lot of money buying in quantity, and that was throught the mail.

 

[LynneP]

I've used about 5 pounds in 8 weeks for brooder and coop( 12 golden comets). This was to set up from scratch. Like Miss Prissy I expect my 50 pounds to last about a year. Good value. Oh I use it in the run, too, to set up a perimeter against parasites.

 

[DLS]

y'all must know how to spread it thinner than i can. aI saw someone using a collander that would burn a #50 bag quick.. maybe you don't cover as well as I think I might have to?

 

[dixygirl]

I agree DLS. I figure if i have 35-50 pounds of wood shavings in there, adding 3 pounds of de would be less than 10%. Any less than 10% probably wouldn't even do anything since it is not a strong chemical in the first place.

 

[speckledhen]

I have several coops and pens and if I'm careful, 50 lb may last five or six months.