Mix DE in Water???

[Laurieks]

I bought Diatomaceous Earth (DE), food grade, to put in dust baths & around the coop to combat mites & lice.
Some folks have written that they take it in water or yogurt themselves, and add it to animal feed.
To avoid the inhaled dust, I'd like to add it to the goat and chicken water.
Anyone done this? Did it seem to work?

Thanks!
L

 

[sonew123]

Nope never heard of that. But I do use it for dusting coops and put some on their food!

 

[SteveH]

Btter answered by someone with some experience , but I would think it would quickly settle to the bottom without continuous agitation .

 

[feathersnuggles]

Probably would clog up the poultry waterer. I wouldn't do it.

Use the suggestion of putting it into their food and sprinkling into their bedding and nests. Humans take it in water, yogurt, applesauce, etc. because it's a way to make it palatable and get it down. Otherwise, it's a lot like eating dry flour -- hard to get down the throat. Chickens can eat some DE mixed into their dry feed or a little mixed into a moist treat, just before you offer it.

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

There's no benefit from ingesting DE.
No need to waste the money

 

[panner123]

The reason people take it and give it to thier animals is, to kill all the bad little buds and worms in the system. So if you think your chickens might have internal bugs or worms feed it to them, I do just because. I have seen no ill affects from them eating it.

 

[chickeydee]

I mix it with there water just like cool -aid you have to stir it . I also put a little in there sand in the coop .It is good for humans ,dogs ,cows, and all live stock it helps with the fleas if you have dogs . I have used it for six months in my dogs food and now they have no fleas .

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

The reason people take it and give it to thier animals is, to kill all the bad little buds and worms in the system

It's never been proven scientifically to kill anything other than insects, and only when it's dry.

I have seen no ill affects from them eating it

There are no effects from eating it, ill, or otherwise​

 

[chickeydee]

Natural freshwater diatomaceous earth is used in agriculture for grain storage as an anti-caking agent, as well as insecticide.[4] It is approved by the US Department of Agriculture as a feed supplement.

It is also used as a neutral anthelmentic (de-wormer). Some farmers add it to their livestock and poultry feed to improve the health of animals.[5] "Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth" is widely available in agricultural feed supply stores. It is acceptable as organic feed additive for livestock.

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

It is also used as a neutral anthelmentic (de-wormer). Some farmers add it to their livestock and poultry feed to improve the health of animals.[

It's "used", but no one has ever proven it actually works.

It is approved by the US Department of Agriculture as a feed supplement.

The only reason it's approved as a "feed supplement" is that there's no way to remove it when it's used in grain to control insects and caking, so it has to be given a "food grade" rating to be used at all

It's mostly an inert ingredient (silicon dioxide crystals) that kills insects by cutting them.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silicon_dioxide

The chemical compound silicon dioxide, also known as silica (from the Latin silex), is an oxide of silicon with a chemical formula of SiO2 and has been known for its hardness since antiquity. Silica is most commonly found in nature as sand or quartz, as well as in the cell walls of diatoms. Silica is the most abundant mineral in the Earth's crust.

The typical chemical composition of diatomaceous earth is 86% silica, 5% sodium, 3% magnesium and 2% iron.

According to Anne Zajac, DVM, PhD, Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blackburg, VA, “…there have been several studies done by parasitologists in different parts of the country that have found no beneficial effect to feeding it or offering it as mineral.”

http://www.motesclearcreekfarms.com/ASP/articles/DE.asp​