Some DE questions...

[woodmort]

DE consists of small, fossilized microbes as such it is probably harmless but the stuff used for swimming pools is generally not purified after it is mined and may even be mixed with other chemicals, i.e. chlorine. There is some that is available from aquarium shops for use as filtering that is harmless as well as some gardening supply companies as snail/slug deterrent. I wouldn't suggest ingesting either types, however, since it isn't sold for that purpose and agree there is no nutritional point to it at any rate. Of course Jesper Parnevik ate volcanic sand and finished in the top 5 of 6 PGA tourney so, who knows?

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

Not true....

"It is important to recognize that not all forms of diatomaceous earth are non-toxic and safe to use for organic gardening and agriculture. DE that is used for swimming pool filters is toxic to humans and will not control insects.

Don't get your information from sales people
They are spreading misinformation in an attempt to SELL you their product

DE itself is NON TOXIC, and is about 90% pure Silica, which is the most common mineral in the Earth's crust.
If it were "toxic", we wouldnt be here now

The hazard comes from breathing the CRYSTALS which are severely irritating to the lungs, but are NOT "poison"
The "pool" type has been heat treated, and contains a much larger amount of the crystalline form

Some products CONTAINING DE, and sold as "insecticides" DO have toxic chemicals such as Pyrethrin or Permethrin added.

DE is NOT effective on internal parasites.
It's only proven uses are as a mechanical insecticide that ONLY works when it's dry, and as a dessicant when used in grain, which is why it was given a "Food Grade " rating to begin with.

It was never considered a "nutritional" supplement, and the only sources that tell you it is are also selling it, just as the source you gave​

 

[dawg53]

Thanks Bear Foot Farm for the info on DE. I for one have used DE and I'm not the least bit impressed with it at all. It IS a waste of money. I once used it on a rooster that had feather lice and it didnt get rid of all the lice....even after using it in their house,nests etc...I redusted 10 days later, same thing. I switched over to sevin dust, that took care of the lice problem and never had a problem since. I used to worm with DE years ago faithfully, til I saw wiggling worms coming out the rear end of one my hens. Wazine and Ivermectin took care of the worm issue and have been a firm believer in chemical wormers since....but I found out you cant convince alot of people on here that DE is useless when it's wet, like in the chickens' innards, that it wont kill worms. That's why wazine is on the market specifically used for chickens, turkey and swine. I'd think if DE were such a great wormer and everything else it supposedly is; that it would be federally approved as a chicken wormer etc... You are right....the sales people/company's have most everyone fooled that it is the greatest thing since sliced bread.

 

[hd_darcy]

Now why didn't I read more than what I Read BEFORE I bought it

.. So should I be giving them something for preventive measures w/ worms / parasites? Thank you!

 

[Wolfwoman]

There's a bunch more post on here of people that HAVE used it, ARE using it and like it and can testify to what it does for them and their critters - why not read some of that first hand before deciding it doesn't work. I don't think anyone has said that it's for worming internally, but that it's for outside pests.

 

[dawg53]

You are right Wolfwoman, I've read most of the posts on how great DE is, and the many people that ARE using it, and how they testify how GREAT it is. I used to be one of them and a firm believer in DE myself!! But after watching the results firsthand in my chickens of what it's supposed to do, and DE NOT doing what it's supposed to do...it's nothing more than false advertising and most everyone here is deceived as I used to be. I can go to the beach and bring home a bucket of sand and get the same results...nothing! Except that the sand was free! Check out the worming posts on here, even I suggested DE as a preventative between regular chemical wormings,(not anymore.) Most everyone in those posts stated they dont use chemicals and only use DE as a wormer....go see for yourself! I know about worming; DE and the other so called natural wormers are not in the equation. This is my last post on DE, I have no need for it anymore nor discussion.

 

[Wolfwoman]

I stated above that it wasn't used as a wormer... but for other things. IDK.... I am assuming that people using it aren't going to lie about what they've seen - as you haven't.

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

So should I be giving them something for preventive measures w/ worms / parasites?

Wormers should never be used as a "preventive"
Only worm birds that show symptoms of worms​

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

I stated above that it wasn't used as a wormer...

Then what's the point in feeding it to your birds, or eating it yourself?

Wolfwoman wrote:
Actually, yes you can put it in their feed, just as humans can take it too.​

 

[Wolfwoman]

Quote:
Then what's the point in feeding it to your birds, or eating it yourself?

Wolfwoman wrote:
Actually, yes you can put it in their feed, just as humans can take it too.
​

Well I don't KNOW yet, as I haven't gotten mine in the mail. I am going to try it and see if it has any cleansing properties as I've read on several sites (not all of which sells it). Goodness knows ours systems take in and KEEP a lot more than they need to. It sure can't hurt! And there's a TON of places that say it does work on insects, and lots of people (bar one or two) on here that say it works. The majority have used it, and like it. You and dawg53 are the only ones I've seen so far against it.

I will get my bag, use it and (hopefully remember) to report back to you on what I think, good or bad. How does that sound? If you don't hear from me about it in a month or so, I've either died from using it, or forgotten

Send me a note and remind me.