Shelflife of DE

[brettnreno]

Quote:
I'm sure everyone has different opinions, but I've been using DE I buy from a local chemical supply house for over a year now and have had absolutely no ill effects. It is not considered food grade. But to each their own.

I have yet to lose a chicken since I started raising them unless it has been to satisfy my appetite.

 

[ThornyRidge]

I would say too that it should keep indefinately if you store it properly and not let moisture/stuff accumulate in the bag.. I am lucky here that my local feedmill sells it cheap (under 20 bucks for 50 lbs) due to them making own feed and including it in many different types of feed.. the bag they sold is marketed as feed grade and has pictures of all types of animals on the bag including livestock and dogs. can't recall what actual brand name is.. bag is white.

 

[cmom]

I bought a 50 lb bag of Food Grade DE over a year ago and I still have a lot left. I just sprinkle it in the birds run, coop, poop pit and their favorite dusting hole usually every other week. I store it in 5 gallon buckets with lids. This is the bucket opener I use.

 

[dgh]

http://www.wolfcreekranch.net/diatomaceous_earth.html

http://www.dirtworks.net/Diatomaceous-Earth.html

 

[dgh]

My husband has a case that involves a fatal lung disorder caused by diatomaceous earth, NON- food grade, Industrial DE is cancer causing.

Food grade is safe .

 

[Dread Pirate Roberts]

Quote:
I'm sure everyone has different opinions, but I've been using DE I buy from a local chemical supply house for over a year now and have had absolutely no ill effects. It is not considered food grade. But to each their own.

Lots of people have smoked cigarettes for a year with absolutely no ill affects. How will they be doing after 20-30 years?

 

[dgh]

Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth - 6 lbs Perma-Guard
DE for Natural People, Pet, Animal & Plant Health

Item number: 180334255453

this is an ebay item # this is where I got mine

 

[Resolution]

Quote:
There definitely IS A DIFFERENCE, safety-wise. That some people aren't aware of it doesn't mean it doesn't exist

The non food grade DE (sold for pool filters, agricultural use, etc) is made from marine diatom deposits and contains very very sharp silica crystals which are Not Good For You if inhaled.
http://www.jtbaker.com/msds/englishhtml/d1288.htm

It can cause silicosis, a permanent irreversible lung disease. Most cases of silicosis are from people with significant ongoing occupational exposure, but it can also occur from much milder and shorter exposures too. Its effects are not immediate, meaning that it's not like you're going to use pool grade DE one day and be hacking your lungs out the next... so you may not even KNOW that your problems, or your animals' problems, trace back to pool filter DE. Hence some people saying 'oh don't worry'.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silicosis

The food grade DE, which is what you oughta be using, has most of its silica in 'amorphous' form rather than long sharp crystals. It still whacks arthropods that come in contact with it, but while it is no better for you than breathing any other kind of dust it is also no *worse* for you than breathing any other kind of dust. I am not aware that there is any risk of silicosis from the food grade (that is *why* it can be labelled 'food grade' of course!).

If your health and that of your animals is worth saving thirty bucks, fine, but don't say you weren't warned

Pat

Well Done. In my opinion, the most efficient method to feed DE is in a poultry porridge -this way none of it ends up being inhaled and as it is so particulate, we have to envision how the hens will pick it up and actually insure it is being ingested.
Food Grade DE can be mixed into cooked oatmeal- applesauce- peanut butter- bacon drippings- etc.

 

[AHappychick]

I am suprised I was able to get a 50 pound bag of DE from my feed store no problem, and unlike my organic feed which they have to order for me they carry this in shop at all times. and yes its food grade. I guess it is just the store and the companies that they buy from.

 

[crackertrail]

Can anybody give me an idea of how long it takes to kill fleas after dusting with DE? or other little buggers ----