Is This Safe For The Chickens.

[Mommy2Blaze]

Thank you guys so much for the help. I just did a lot of reading about DE and why haven't I heard of this before?? I can use this for my horse even for parasite control. How awesome. We have a lot of ticks around here too and this is natural and safe for kids, pets and the land? I will be ordering some Tuesday. Where can I get the best price do you know? I need to be able to get large amounts if needed because of the area I need to cover. Hubby wants to put it on the pasture too for the horse.

 

[Tracydr]

Try the feed store. I can get fifty pound bags there. Put it in your chicken bedding to prevent mites, too.

 

[ChickenAl]

Here's a link for organic insect control. Should be safer for the chickens. http://www.domyownpestcontrol.com/natural-organic-c-31.html?gclid=COa1oP_s96kCFYeD5Qod2nExaA

 

[Mommy2Blaze]

Thank you all so much. The DE sounds like a perfect plan for all involved like my son, us, the chickens and the horse.

 

[thesweetone]

Hope to hear that this works for you. We have a horrible ant problem as well - part of why we'll be getting chickens! We've lived here (5 acres in the country) 6 years and the firey little buggers take a few meals out of each of us each summer. Thankfully we're not allergic but it stings like crazy. As my 3 y/o would say, "That hurts like the chickens!" We're a winter away from having my flock but might try the DE in the meantime...

 

[ChickenAl]

Quote:
One thing I don't think anyone has mentioned is that DE does not work while it is wet. When it rains or when morning dew is on it the effect is lost. Also, it is a slower process and may not fully take care of a major ant infestation. I use it in the coop and run and like it, but there are limitations and side effects to any form of pest control. DE is not good to breath in so apply it on a windless day. Wear a mask if you are doing a large ares.

Nothing is perfect and you have to weigh the benefit against the downside. It will lower the bug population in total, and that means beneficial insects as well.

Definitely try it and monitor the area you are using it in before letting your son there.

 

[Mommy2Blaze]

I did read you have to reapply it when it rains. Also we thought about getting some of the organic pyrethrin (sp) spray and using it to treat all the mounds we see and then doing the land with the DE. I told hubby he has to apply it and wear a mask because my son and I both have asthma too so we can't be too careful with our breathing. But I thought he could apply it in the morning time and by evening we can go out as it is too hot right now here in GA to be out in the day time anyway. Also treating the mounds with the liquid should be faster on the ants themselves. We used the other stuff for ants but also for other bugs that were killing our grass and causing thatch so we do need to use some. May just leave the chickies in the run when we expand it to 20x20 and treat the yard for our comfort. Is a 20x20 run and an 8x8 area under the coop together enough for 11 chickens (3 are bantams)?

 

[ChickenAl]

Quote:
Yes, More than enough. That's more than 42 sq. ft. per chicken. Excellent!

 

[Farm_Maven]

If you have a Tractor Supply near you, they have recently started carrying DE, 20 pound bag for $11.99. Prices may vary by region, but that is how much my store has it at.

 

[pepperlady]

One other thing that you might want to try is nematodes. You can buy nematodes that are carnivorous and they will eat all kinds of insects in your yard. You buy them and then spray them all over your yard. It has been years since I used it because I moved. I had a terribe termite problem that could not be poisoned due to waterways being too close to my house there was concern over runoff. The pest company that I called suggested nematodes. I lived on 80 acres of rowcrops & it didn't bother the crops at all, but I could walk barefooted anywhere on the place and not step in an anthill. I'm allergic as well & WHAT a blessing. I didn't get the treatment for ant control, but boy did it work. I use DE where I am now, but I have never had the infestation of insects here that I had at my previous location. So, I am thinking that DE is a great preventative, but you might need more??? HTH!