Scratch & Peck Now Contains Diatomaceous Earth In Their Feeds

[FeatherAndBloom]

My concern is that even the food grade DE can contain silica, and chicken feed is *always* dusty. Which means the chickens are going to be inhaling DE. Now, the studies show that mammalian lungs can get rid of food grade DE pretty quickly, but chickens have air sacs, not lungs, which do not have the same ability to quickly remove any dust or particles that they inhale. Mammals have cilia which is always moving and pushing particles out and then we cough it out. Birds don’t work that way, they use their immune system’s macrophages to go in and basically eat the particles to get rid of them, and birds in general do not tolerate breathing in many of the same things mammals do.

DE in chicken feed is probably used for anti-caking properties, but I just don’t like it in such a dusty environment where chickens are sticking their faces and inhaling it. They have enough issues with dusty areas, why add something additional to their food that has the potential to cause issues, even a small potential?

I have to agree! Seems unnecessary and like there’s probably another less risky option that serves for anti-caking. Risk/reward for DE and mite protection is probably higher, especially in the coop environment nooks and crannies.

 

[tlcmurphy]

My concern is that even the food grade DE can contain silica, and chicken feed is *always* dusty. Which means the chickens are going to be inhaling DE. Now, the studies show that mammalian lungs can get rid of food grade DE pretty quickly, but chickens have air sacs, not lungs, which do not have the same ability to quickly remove any dust or particles that they inhale. Mammals have cilia which is always moving and pushing particles out and then we cough it out. Birds don’t work that way, they use their immune system’s macrophages to go in and basically eat the particles to get rid of them, and birds in general do not tolerate breathing in many of the same things mammals do.

DE in chicken feed is probably used for anti-caking properties, but I just don’t like it in such a dusty environment where chickens are sticking their faces and inhaling it. They have enough issues with dusty areas, why add something additional to their food that has the potential to cause issues, even a small potential?

It’s pretty much pure silica. I’m not promoting it at all, just saying it’s approved for use as an anti-caking agent in food

 

[ChaosMom]

My concern is that even the food grade DE can contain silica, and chicken feed is *always* dusty. Which means the chickens are going to be inhaling DE. Now, the studies show that mammalian lungs can get rid of food grade DE pretty quickly, but chickens have air sacs, not lungs, which do not have the same ability to quickly remove any dust or particles that they inhale. Mammals have cilia which is always moving and pushing particles out and then we cough it out. Birds don’t work that way, they use their immune system’s macrophages to go in and basically eat the particles to get rid of them, and birds in general do not tolerate breathing in many of the same things mammals do.

DE in chicken feed is probably used for anti-caking properties, but I just don’t like it in such a dusty environment where chickens are sticking their faces and inhaling it. They have enough issues with dusty areas, why add something additional to their food that has the potential to cause issues, even a small potential?

I can understand why you’re unhappy if this is happening. One would think there would be alternative anti-caking agents.

I’m not suggesting by any means that you change your feeding practices, but I wonder if fermented or even moistened feed would avoid (or greatly reduce) inhalation issues?

 

[FeatherAndBloom]

I can understand why you’re unhappy if this is happening. One would think there would be alternative anti-caking agents.

I’m not suggesting by any means that you change your feeding practices, but I wonder if fermented or even moistened feed would avoid (or greatly reduce) inhalation issues?

A great idea! (If it does in fact turn out to have the DE in it, hopefully I’ll hear tomorrow during the work week!)

 

[BDutch]

Yes, please let me know what they say. I am on my last bag of layer and I would really like to continue with S&P. I know a lot of people are ok with DE, but I just don’t feel it is a necessary additive.

I don’t know if I can reassure you. But I use food grade DE for 8 or 9 years now. Never had chickens with breathing problems bc of DE. I have a 9 and a 10 yo chicken who didn’t get sick their entire life.

 

[FeatherAndBloom]

Yes, please let me know what they say. I am on my last bag of layer and I would really like to continue with S&P. I know a lot of people are ok with DE, but I just don’t feel it is a necessary additive.

Here is the response from customer service. My guess is that these guys aren’t outliers and most commercial organic feeds use this during processing as an anti-pest measure because it’s approved under organic certification.

Personally S&P food is still one of the only foods on the markets that meets all my requirements (organic, soy and corn free with recyclable/compostable packaging). I’ll continue using it knowing it’s just trace amounts and not an added ingredient. Hope this helps!

 

[FeatherAndBloom]

Here is the response from customer service. My guess is that these guys aren’t outliers and most commercial organic feeds use this during processing as an anti-pest measure because it’s approved under organic certification.

Personally S&P food is still one of the only foods on the markets that meets all my requirements (organic, soy and corn free with recyclable/compostable packaging). I’ll continue using it knowing it’s just trace amounts and not an added ingredient. Hope this helps!

Here was the final explanation from them about why it was in the ingredient list before!

 

[Batzilla]

Here was the final explanation from them about why it was in the ingredient list before!

Yay! Glad to know I wasn’t going crazy and great to know it isn’t an added ingredient. Thank you for posting!

 

[Batzilla]

I can understand why you’re unhappy if this is happening. One would think there would be alternative anti-caking agents.

I’m not suggesting by any means that you change your feeding practices, but I wonder if fermented or even moistened feed would avoid (or greatly reduce) inhalation issues?

I actually do feed fermented daily but I also like to have dry in the treadle for the girls so they have a choice

 

[Batzilla]

It’s pretty much pure silica. I’m not promoting it at all, just saying it’s approved for use as an anti-caking agent in food

Just for info, silica is bad juju when inhaled regularly. This is a big reason why I don’t think DE is good around chickens. Why You Don’t Want to Be Inhaling Silica. I don’t think birds can get silicosis per se, but inhaling silica is still not good for them.

I do understand it is an anti-caking agent and generally considered safe for food use, but I don’t think the FDA is thinking humans are sticking their faces in dusty foods to eat the way chickens do

Silica is also thought to damage the pulmonary macrophages, and macrophages are the only way chickens have to get rid of stuff they inhale into their air sacs because they don’t have cilia like mammals do.

It’s just not worth the risk to me, but everyone has to make their own decisions on what they think is best for them and their critters.