Sneezing from Diatomous earth????

[monkeyspinner]

YES it is FOOD GRADE. I was going to use Pumpkin seeds but I was at our Co Op and they had this whole big thing on DE. I have looked on other pet forums and seen that people have had pets have Sneezing fits after using DE. I used 5% ( of food volume) as is stated on the packaging and numerous sites. Is weird I sit with them alot like a few hours at a time drawing them and I haven't heard them sneeze or scratch their nostril.
I suspect they might be cold as we are on the ocean and they came from the desert. The green house they are kept in at night is dry I think too dry they take alot of dust baths and there little faces are dirty. There is no dripping from the nose. I let them free range yesterday and they ate alot of bugs.
They are spunky and didn't want to eat alot of food last night but my common sense says that is because they ate bugs all day. No there is nothing in my yard that is poisonous.
I grew up on a farm raising Show birds. But I haven't owned them for the past few years when there seems to be an increased in diseases but it is currently 54 degrees and over cast. I am wearing two sweaters. so I am assuming they are still adjusting to the weather.
I just noticed that they hadn't sneezed before the DE and now they are. I mean it is 83% Silica and Silica can cause respiratory problems. I am hoping it is just because they are on the dirt all night, as there aren't other symptoms. I wanted to know if anyone else sneeze after starting DE.
I am mixing it in their food well they are about 5-6 months old.I think I am also going to contact some one from out local Poultry fanciers and see if they might come out and look at them.

 

[Wynette]

Well, they sound healthy other than the sneezing, and it very well COULD be just a coincidence as to when it started. Maybe they are just getting used to a different climate? It's AWESOME that you are concerned! Love to hear that.

There was a very interesting article in a recent issue of Backyard Poultry magazine regarding the use of DE. I wonder if you can get your hands on it - it was showing the use of DE as something you may consider NOT doing, and stated several convincing reasons. Always good to know both sides of what you're doing.

I think if you really want to know if the DE is causing it, the thing to do is completely remove the DE and see if the sneezing stops. There's not a reason that you "must" use it, so it it's causing issues with your birds, I'd just stop the use of it.

 

[monkeyspinner]

Yes they haven't had it for about a day and I haven't heard anything. DE might be natural but maybe my birds just aren't compatible with it. I am concerned for my bids because I got them to draw and pain and them being happy is essential for that. Ill try to locate BYP mag but we don't really have it around here thanks for the heads up.

 

[Wynette]

I understand your concern; sounds like you hit the nail on the head. Maybe stick with pumpkin seeds...they need to be raw, and you need to crack them open (I put them in a food processor before serving).

I'll check with my friend who subscribes to BYP and see if she still has that article. Maybe I can send you out a copy of it or something.