Should I put diatomaceous earth on chicks?

[Future vet]

I have diatomaceous earth, the chicks don’t have lice but just checking.

 

[HeatherKellyB]

No. DE can be harmful to humans and chickens respiratory systems. Some people use it and swear by it, but others do not. Testing shows that DE is ineffective in killing poultry lice and mites.

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

I wouldn't do it. I'm pretty sure it's bad for the lungs. But thanks for asking before trying.

 

[nuthatched]

No, never. De can cause respiratory issues, it's bad for anything with lungs.

 

[HeatherKellyB]

The only actual use I have found where it's effective is in buggy feed. Aart mentioned that here on BYC and uses it for that.

*if anyone could tag her, that'd be great

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

The only actual use I have found where it's effective is in buggy feed. Aart mentioned that here on BYC and uses it for that.

*if anyone could tag her, that'd be great

@aart

 

[Painted Calls]

The only actual use I have found where it's effective is in buggy feed. Aart mentioned that here on BYC and uses it for that.

*if anyone could tag her, that'd be great

I have videos of grain mites doing the backstroke and laughing in DE. It hasn't even been effective in feed for me.

 

[HeatherKellyB]

I have videos of grain mites doing the backstroke and laughing in DE. It hasn't even been effective in feed for me.

That's good to know! Thank you So far I've been able to return and replace buggy feed. I don't think I'll ever use DE again since I have asthma anyway. I had a bucket with some poultry lice in it and DE did absolutely nothing to them. Sounds like our experiments were similar

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

I bought a bunch of DE when I first started with chickens. Used it a couple times in the coop and now it lives in the shed I think...

 

[aart]

I have diatomaceous earth, the chicks don’t have lice but just checking.

Why would you want to do that?

I have videos of grain mites doing the backstroke and laughing in DE. It hasn't even been effective in feed for me.

Please post vids.
It worked here, but can take a lot of it and few days....
.....not like spraying them with Raid where they drop dead on contact.