Is Red Lake Earth right DE?

[chicky28]

I know this a very old thread but I just want to say I use DE food grade, the light grey, for my alpacas /llama to roll in. They Love it !

I also put it around my plants for bug control. It works very well. I don't use it on their kibble ( I could though).

 

[phasqually]

I added a teaspoon to a glass of water today. Drank it down - "red lake earth " RLE from Canada food chemical codex grade. Then read the disclaimer on the website. Any one else eat this dirt besides me & them chickens in my backyard?

 

[Debrachartley]

I used the Red Lake Earth all around my chicken house, all over my house, and all over my dogs and cats well over a week ago and I could not be more thrilled! It worked perfectly for my dogs fleas and as a preventative measure to keep from having a problem in my chicken coop and in the yard they roam in. When I put it out I was careful that the dust did not fly into the air. That could have been the cause of the chickens dying in the previous comment.

 

[Chickmom6]

I use RLE and did a lot of research it is fine to drink and has calcium bentonite also 1% silica. Which is food grade.

 

[dawg53]

I use RLE and did a lot of research it is fine to drink and has calcium bentonite also 1% silica. Which is food grade.

Make sure you let your doctor know you're drinking it.

 

[Chickmom6]

Dont have a doctor. Been healthy since 2005 no sickness.

 

[dawg53]

Dont have a doctor. Been healthy since 2005 no sickness.

Better get you a doctor or you'll be seeing less $ in your income tax returns.

 

[crsmith6196]

I am concerned on the amount people are using due to posters saying "used a shifter" or "used a handful" or "2% vs 5%". There is a tool called a duster made to apply powder applications. I was very unfortunate!!! My home & yard got infested with lice. We have 3 dogs, 2 peacocks, 50 some chickens on 5 acres. Due to the large amount of DE and frequency that I needed to apply to kill the lice; I bought a Duster. When using it, you pump the handle and a puff of powder (DE) comes out. Just the right amount. A light puff comes out and gravity takes over. Also it lets you direct where the puff goes - up, down, behind, on a window screen, so on. YES the lice are gone!! I never lost a plant, bird or mammal (except lice)

.

I bought RLE DE from Tractor Supply (TSC). Got home & thought about how to apply. Tried a few home remedies....hummmm. Went to the local farm store and got a Duster made by Hudson. The red one (below) I bought. The other picture is an older style just FYI.

I'm hopeful this will help others use DE (what ever kind) and be safe on the amount applied.

 

[Higginbotham]

Just wanted to say that I've been using RLE for a month now. I rake it into my chicken coop (dirt floor) and all around it. I've dusted the chickens with it, as well.

So far, no chickens (27 of them) have gotten sick or died. I'm not putting it in their feed, but I'm sure they're eating it because we just toss the feed on the ground. No issues. No parasites.

 

[chuckmama]

hi, I am new to raising chickens and have many questions myself. I went to FAQ on Red Lake Earth (RLE) website and they talk about Food Chemical Codex and also have a video on there product including ingredients. After ready several articles I have determined that I want 100% DE. What I bout prior to my research is 95% ash and 8% moisture, maximum? with Calcium Bentonite listed as an ingredient. From what I understand that is the clay part but I find the whole thing confusing. Many say harmful to your lungs other say getting it wet via mouth, nasal passagages makes it no more harmful that breathing in flour as long as it isn't pool grade. RLE says the end product is not for human consumption while many eat it. That may have to do with how it is registered rather than whether it is unsafe to eat. Check out their site though and see if that doesn't help. I might try it because I have it now but a bit concerned because someone thought it killed their animals. This could have been a coincidence though, the evidence is certainly inconclusive as other have used it successfully . I need to do more research too!