Sneezing from Diatomous earth????

[monkeyspinner]

Hello,
I keep my chickens at night in my greenhouse. It has a dirt floor. I have had these chickens for about two weeks. They have never sneezed. I gave them Diatmaceous earth yesterday night with their food because I wanted to worm them.
Then last night and today I heard a few sneeze's and they scratched their beaks. No other symptoms no mucus or discoloration. They have dirt around their nostrils.Then tonight they didn't want to eat food but I had let them run around the yard freely today.
I am asking because I know that Diatmaceous Earth has a high content of Silica which your not suppose to inhale (86%).
So if any one has any advice. Please provide. I also have never raised poultry in the part of CA that I am in now ( northern CA). They came from southern CA about (80 degrees) to here about (53 degrees) about two weeks ago.

 

[monkeyspinner]

I am Editing to Bump.. I think there might be people awake.

EDIT

Ok I am editing this is the hope someone gives some feed back.

There were 4 hens that were Golden Cuckoo Marans and 2 Muts and 1 GCM Roo. They lived in a garage fro a month and were suppose to be laying. ( the breeder is seeming seedy at this point, but the birds were acquired for me by my mom). No Signs of illness.One Marans and a mut got eaten Wednesday night.

They have seemed fine except that hey were thinner ( I figured because they had been living in a garage and weren't really laying or to that age).Thus the DE as a precaution to worms figuring it was low impact.

The Three Golden Marans left, two have enlarged vents and combs one not, and have had no Maran eggs since the attack ( thus thinking she was the one laying) the one hen sneezing seems to be a mut that is laying.They have all been eating good until tonight but I did let them free range all day and I think they new the DE was on it.
I am leaning towards not disease as they don't have any other symptoms and they did just move from someplace warm ( yes I am aware about the whole cold theory and know they don't get it but I figure a 30 degree change might affect them for a bit) Them seem to be scratching their nostrils and only two are sneezing ... I think it is either the DE or the fact that I leave them all night on Green house dirt. ( I read on pet forums DE can cause sneezing) But after losing 2 to foxes I am paranoid...

IF you click on my webpage you can see a picture I took of them yesterday.

 

[spook]

Honestly, I doubt DE is the whole issue with your girls. I believe it is probably the MG that all birds carry.
(Personally, read the link below, and I will dare to say...those that do not have it, have not been tested.)
If your girls are sneezing and coughing, don't do anything until they show signs of weakness, not eating as well and coughing.
Then you can use a antibiotic.
I did not read everything but could you go read my page. Thanks!

 

[threehorses]

I definitely second Spook's post. Please don't do an antibiotic until there are definite signs of an illness. Let them have a chance to develop their own immunity first.

To help that, just give them immunity boosters. A vitamin E capsule, a teaspoon of yogurt, in four cups of food wetted with some water as a quick healthy treat. Do that every couple of days til this either passes or gets worse. If it gets worse, then treat and only with an appropriate antibiotic. Get advice here, not from a feedstore clerk.

 

[ZZsBabiez]

I am all for natural.. but I never had respiratory problems with my flock till I started using DE.

I have completely taken it out of the coops and feed... and will never use it again.

 

[vnploveschickens]

I use FOOD GRADE DE and have no problems with my chickens. I sprinkle and mix into their pine shavings bedding & nest boxes. I mix a little into their food. (Should be 1-2%).

Because the powder is so fine, mix it into the dirt or bedding material.

 

[threehorses]

I've also used food grade DE and had no problems. But I was very aware with ANY particulate at all giving birds respiratory issues, even pine shavings. So I made sure to mix it into food very carefully. Putting it on their grit's a good place, too - any place they pick for things. But it takes very little for it to work.

 

[threehorses]

Incidentally, I don't think it's the DE at all. A lot of flocks are fighting little viruses right now and I suspect that's what it is.

 

[Wynette]

AS others have stated, I'd make SURE you have food-grade DE. Also, how old are they? Are they warm enough? Does the greenhouse have adequate ventilation, and is it dry? The key to healthy respiratory systems is a dry, clean, well-ventilated area.

 

[Mary Of Exeter]

No kind of dust is good for birds and other animals to breathe. That's why dust should be kept to a minimal, and DE used in moderation.