Ribh's D'Coopage

Either spring is indeed on it's way or our weather is about to get really intense, I vote spring. We have ants in the house, it's an almost sure sign.
Me too - I have never had them this early!
 
Good evening folks :frow


DE is a hotly debated topic. There seems to be two camps: 1) It's wonderful for pest control; 2) It doesn't do anything for pest control and bad for the chickens lungs.

I'm not in either camp. I don't use it, but that's just me. A LOT of feed companies add it to their feed. Not for parasite control within the chicken but to deal with weevils in the feed itself. Once DE get's wet (i.e., inside a chicken) it loses its ability to kill parasites. I'm also not convinced (haven't found any evidence) that it's harmful to their lungs.

None the less, if you discuss it out in the open world. It's kind of like discussing politics or religion. I would not be surprised if someone who doesn't hang out here, finds their way here to beat me about the head and shoulders for what I've presented.
Most of the debate is based around why people think chickens dust bath. People believe it's to rid themselves of parasites. They dust bath to soak up the oil that gets secreted and applied for their feather condition.
There is no way chucking a handful of dirt on a chicken is going to kill any parasites.
I've read people stating that DE kills red mite. Red mite doesn't live on the chicken.
You might just dislodge a louse or two by rolling in the dirt. However, when the chickens here have had lice no amount of dust bathing has got rid of them. They need to be picked off; usually by another chicken. Bad infestations need chemical attention. Some of the rescue hens here have arrived with lice. It takes a couple of treatments to wipe them out, Getting the eggs is the hard part.
So, my view is whatever DE does, it won't tackle a bad infestation of lice, or any other parasite.
 
You are correct of course. I have seen this DE debate play out. If you can imagine it, Shadrach has definitive opinions on the subject. Shocking, I know.

I also don't use it. Mostly because I have never seen the need to even go down this road not because I have an opinion on the topic.
Shadrach has some facts to hand; not opinions. ;)
 
Well they don't ship to America but I found this one on Amazon. So I won't have the communal mug but it will be close.
View attachment 2527888View attachment 2527889

I did see this one for @MaryJanet to commemorate her battle with the mouse/rat/marsupial!

View attachment 2527890
My mug showed up today. I call him Shadrach. 😁

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I'm ready. What day is going to be chicken mug day?
 

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