Opinions on DE Products for RUN/COOP: Fresh Coop vs Coop Recuperate

[Splendid Medley]

Hi-

We are finishing remodel/construction on the run (had to replace ALL the wire). Chicks are 4.5 weeks and will be moving outside soon.

Any thoughts on using DE products Coop Recuperate versus Fresh Coop? Coop Recuperate is scented with lemongrass which seems nice, and the Fresh Coop is another product available at my local store. Just wondering if anyone has any opinions on these brands? I will eventually add to the big girl dust baths which are old tires. What other ways do you use DE or reasons not to use it? I see a lot of opinions on this.

 

[3KillerBs]

Diatomaceous Earth is a respiratory irritant. I don't use any such things around chickens, who have extremely delicate respiratory systems.

 

[neo71665]

Diatomaceous Earth is a respiratory irritant. I don't use any such things around chickens, who have extremely delicate respiratory systems.

 

[Brooks_]

use DE or reasons not to use it? I see a lot of opinions on this.

The general consensus is that the potential harm far outweighs any benefit you may get. At best, it's a waste of money.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

also, when damp, DE clumps and becomes almost completely ineffective at scratching the waxy coating off of insect carapaces (causing their slow death via dehydration). Chicken runs are routinely damp. Chicken droppings are damp. The morning dew is damp. When chickens scratch into the earth, often, its damp too.

Rendering the DE ineffective. (and even when it does work, the process is SO slow I don't consider it useful for controlling insect populations troublesome to chickens). I **DO** use DE - just not for my birds. I put a bit of it on horizontal surfaces in the garden shed, where it helps control spiders, the occasional roach, etc. and where I can be certain it stays dry! It also makes good impressions when mice use that horizontal surface as a run. So I know where to stick glue traps, and when to bother with them.

 

[neo71665]

If ya aint found out yet you aint gonna get much support for snake oil products on here. We only deal with stuff that is proven by science to work.

 

[aart]

Diatomaceous Earth is a respiratory irritant. I don't use any such things around chickens, who have extremely delicate respiratory systems.

Plus it doesn't do a darn bit of good to repel pests.

 

[Splendid Medley]

So IOW its all hype. Thanks--

 

[Brooks_]

So IOW its all hype. Thanks--

For around chickens, yes, all hype. Otherwise, it has uses.

 

[aart]

So IOW its all hype. Thanks--

Pretty much.
One place I have found it useful is in summer I often get grain mites in the feed I buy.
Mixing a good amount(palm full of DE per gallon of feed) into the feed kills the mites tho it can take a few days.