Mama Heating Pad in the Brooder (Picture Heavy) - UPDATE

[Blooie]

Maybe this will help ease your mind a bit....when this was taken it was in the teens and twenties out there. There is a week's difference in the chicks, they are in together and I had no problems. Year before I had 2 weeks differences in the chicks and I "didn't know any better according to experts" and I put them all together. They're still out there together. Somebody forgot to tell them they weren't supposed to get along with that much difference in age.

 

[WyoJax]

I'm thinking I definitely need to research some DLM before the coop gets up and running.

 

[3riverschick]

I think i have been way overusing DE, i put it down in the run whenever its muddy and toss it down in the coop when I clean the coop and nest box. It probably isn't good for them. And I don't exactly put little amounts down. I think I'll completely stop using it or severely limit it. It's probably only supposed to be like once a month or something if that, i feel like I'm constantly putting it down

DE is fine to use in the coop. It just depends on how you put it down.
Here's how you do it. First clean yur coop down to the floor. Everything off the floor. Now take your feed grade DE ( not pool grade) and sprinkle it over the floor just until you can't see the pattern (whatever it is) in the floor. A thin film you can't see thru a bit deeper in the corners. Not a heavy layer. Wear a simple face cover when you put down the DE..
Now get your bag of Sweet PDV stall sweetener you got at the tack store or Tractor Supply. Sprinkle a layer of it oiver the DE in the same way, at the same depth being careful not to disturb the DE so the DE remains a solid film, smile.
Now carefully lay down your 3-4 inches of dried hardwood shavings ( the white bale, not the yellow bale) you got at Tractor Supply. Viola! You are done.
The DE lays on the bottom and scratches the exoskeletons of any bugs you don't want in the coop so they dehydrate and die. The Sweet PDZ cuts moisture and helps eliminate any ammonia and bad smells in the coop. The shavings make a nice bed for the birds and are deep enough to make thing comfortable for them.
Clean the coop and do this again when the shavings start to get packed down. Maybe once every 2 months or so. If it is winter, just add more chips. Do not stir shavings to "fluff" them using this method. The DE and Sweet PDZ do their work on the bottom of the coop. You can sprinkle Sweet PDZ on the top of the shavings to help freashen the coop if you want. Do not do this with the DE, it only stays on the very bottom of the coop.
If you still want to sell the DE, I wish I was close enough to buy it, sigh.
I do not use De in dusting boxes, there are other formulas which work better. I don't dust the run with DE.
Best,
Karen

 

[ShrekDawg]

DE is fine to use in the coop. It just depends on how you put it down.
Here's how you do it. First clean yur coop down to the floor. Everything off the floor. Now take your feed grade DE ( not pool grade) and sprinkle it over the floor just until you can't see the pattern (whatever it is) in the floor. A thin film you can't see thru a bit deeper in the corners.  Not a heavy layer. Wear a simple face cover when you put down the DE.. 
 Now get your bag of Sweet PDV stall sweetener you got at the tack store or Tractor Supply. Sprinkle a layer of it oiver the DE in the same way, at the same depth being careful not to disturb the DE so the DE remains a solid film, smile.
   Now carefully lay down your 3-4 inches of dried hardwood shavings ( the white bale, not the yellow bale) you got at Tractor Supply. Viola! You are done.
  The DE lays on the bottom and scratches the exoskeletons of any bugs you don't want in the coop so they dehydrate and die. The Sweet PDZ cuts moisture and helps eliminate any ammonia and bad smells in the coop. The shavings make a nice bed for the birds and are deep enough to make thing  comfortable for them.    
   Clean the coop and do this again when the shavings start to get packed down. Maybe once every 2 months or so. If it is winter, just add more chips. Do not stir shavings  to "fluff" them using this method. The DE and Sweet PDZ do their work on the bottom of the coop. You can sprinkle Sweet PDZ on the top of the shavings to help freashen the coop if you want. Do not do this with the DE, it only stays on the very bottom of the coop.
 If you still want to sell the DE, I wish I was close enough to buy it, sigh.
 I do not use De in dusting boxes, there are other formulas which work better.  I don't dust the run with DE.
 Best,
 Karen

Thanks for all the info! I may try that before totally axing the DE.

I did put a layer down on metal tray but then my problem is I also put a lot of it on top of the shavings and that's probably pretty bad for them? Especially since my coop right now is a tiny 3x3 coop kit from TSC. The one we are building is 4x8 and I'm going to put linoleum on the floor. I personally like the shavings from our local feed store, I found the TSC ones to be hard and not very soft, and the ones I got from the pet store one time were good but too small a bag and expensive. I'll get a picture of the bale but I think it's just pine shavings, they're real soft and nice

 

[Blooie]

@3riverschick is right in her post about using DE in this situation, and I certainly do have respect for her experience and advice. However, deep litter and deep bedding are two totally different things. I was using deep bedding for a long time, thinking I was using deep litter. I wasn't. Those shavings just do not break down....if you shovel them up a year later they still look like shavings....a little darker in color and a little softer perhaps, but they are still recognizable as shavings.

This is what I want to see when I do deep litter....see the one little bit of pine shaving that was left in there from the year before? Everything else in there broke down into this beautiful, crumbly stuff, but pine shavings don't do that. Leaves, corn stalk chunks, weeds, a bit of straw, grass, garden refuse - all of that makes deep litter. Bag after bag of shavings makes shavings.

 

[eagrbeavr]

My boyfriend got a touch of DE in his eye and he said it felt like it was on fire. Since then I use it sparingly

 

[WyoJax]

I'm interested in the DLM and the use of sweet Lyme(SP?). DE is not an option at this point just from what I've heard but it seems that a third party product helping the break down process isn't necessary but does help especially without a dirt floor.
MHP is now only used to sit on but I'm assuming that will change when we hit the garage this weekend. Hubby thinks it's mean and too early and still isn't convinced these babies will survive what looks to be a chilly week for Wyoming. I on the other hand am confident in my MHP and my girls. Ahhh the next step, no waking up to girls bickering at each other! Now it's lighting a fire under hubby for that coop! -.-'

 

[mamatink7]

Maybe this will help ease your mind a bit....when this was taken it was in the teens and twenties out there. There is a week's difference in the chicks, they are in together and I had no problems. Year before I had 2 weeks differences in the chicks and I "didn't know any better according to experts" and I put them all together. They're still out there together. Somebody forgot to tell them they weren't supposed to get along with that much difference in age.

Yes, most definitely eases my mind. Thank you helping so much. Franceska

 

[Blooie]

I'm interested in the DLM and the use of sweet Lyme(SP?). DE is not an option at this point just from what I've heard but it seems that a third party product helping the break down process isn't necessary but does help especially without a dirt floor.
MHP is now only used to sit on but I'm assuming that will change when we hit the garage this weekend. Hubby thinks it's mean and too early and still isn't convinced these babies will survive what looks to be a chilly week for Wyoming. I on the other hand am confident in my MHP and my girls. Ahhh the next step, no waking up to girls bickering at each other! Now it's lighting a fire under hubby for that coop! -.-'

Gotta love Wyoming - 75 here Friday and yesterday and sunny sunny sunny!! Down to 60 today, but 70s all next week. Yet, Somewhere - over the mountains........

WyoJax has a different tale to tell. We have 4 distinct climate zones right here in this one state.

 

[mamatink7]

Gotta love Wyoming - 75 here Friday and yesterday and sunny sunny sunny!!  Down to 60 today, but 70s all next week.  Yet, Somewhere - over the mountains........    WyoJax has a different tale to tell.  We have 4 distinct climate zones right here in this one state.

seems the same in Ohio as with WY. All 4 seasons in one day..helLO allergies