Starting to get paranoid about using things like diatomaceous earth on my chickens :(

[bethnlee]

I may be wrong, but I just make sure my girls have somewhere to dust bathe in anytime they want. Mostly, that’s just in their run, where I use sand (not play box sand, but rather, gravelly sand). I also added a dishpan with sand from my yard that I will occasionally add ash from the fireplace to. And that’s all I do. I give my girls a good “look over” every couple of weeks (there are only 3 so it’s easy and they let me pick them up so…) I check their feet, look at their butts and skin around neck…they are a year old now sand so far so good!

 

[Gezellige_Poes]

Has anyone actually used DE and gotten sick from it? Or their birds? (Sorry for hijacking the thread )

I use DE and have never had an issue. No illness, no adverse effects.

I create a mash for my chickens consisting of moistened pellets, Terramin clay, DE, whole eggs mashed up. I sometimes add mealworms or black soldier fly larvae, or different herbs, or greens,... whatever I happened to have available. Usually about once a month. My chickens love this and helps to keep their poo consistent, helps with runny poo. I also offer wet sand for bathing. I buy 50 lb bags of play sand at Home Depot for this. The sand cleans their feathers, feet, conditions their skin. Never have any mite issues. I adopted a hen many years ago, a white Sussex, Bernadette. I suspected mites on her. I put a small drop of 1% injectable ivermectin on the back of her head, in the nape. Problem solved. I have read you can give this orally for internal parasites, but I've never had to do that. The DE and clay take care of that.

A sidebar: I always have ivermectin on hand. A drop on the back of the neck for guinea pigs takes care of mites. Rabbit ear mites, flush and clean ears well, douse with oil (coconut, olive), drop at the base of the ears, or forego the oil in the ears, and put a drop of ivermectin per ear. I use it for my dogs, 0.1 ml per 10# of body weight. Off label. Once every 3-4 weeks. Takes care of heartworm, intestinal parasites, even fleas! I have never seen a flea on any of my dogs, nor do biting insects even land on their fur with this regiment. Of note, the MDR1 gene and ivermectin sensitivity/toxicity. I have a rough collie who tested positive for the MDR1 gene and she is on a different protocol. While small doses are reportedly OK, for heartworm prevention, I use it for parasite control as well, and the dose is significantly higher. Bottom line is to do your research carefully and stay informed (https://vcpl.vetmed.wsu.edu/).

 

[Gezellige_Poes]

Yes, DE is definitely NOT harmless, if it was, it would be of little use for dessicating pests. If applied directly on vents/under wings while wearing a good fitting mask, chances of it getting in lungs are substantially reduced. But it is a great choice for those seeking organic alternatives, and for protecting species that are not target pests. If used correctly on specific pests, it’s an effective and safe treatment.

The main thing is to not breathe in the dust. I posted how I use it to this thread. Carefully scoop and wet it down. Wear a mask if you are concerned about any DE dust floating around.

 

[TreeTreeZR]

I personally use Neem oil.
Use a paintbrush to apply it to my chickens legs, it's thick and goopy so stays on and creates a film.

 

[Oddidy]

I’ve usd food grade DE off & on for years with zero problems. (At least none that I’m aware of). Now you’ve got me googling!

 

[ChookieG]

DE food grade is not going to make you sick. I’ve know multiple people who have used it for various purposes for years. It is even recommended for personal use. I’m not sure what your concern is, unless you aren’t using food grade.

Like I've mentioned before in this thread.. I get sore throats whenever I used my food-grade DE without an N95 mask... maybe I've got sensitive lungs... but it's always a good idea to wear a suitable mask when using it...

I'm glad people have good experience in getting rid of pests with DE...and here are just some articles reporting it's effectiveness. I especially like the review paper (click here) but here are the links:

1. Fossil Shell Flour in Livestock Production: A Review
https://www.researchgate.net/public...ll-Flour-in-Livestock-Production-A-Review.pdf

2. Management of the poultry red mite, Dermanyssus gallinae, using silica-based acaricides
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7538411/pdf/10493_2020_Article_541.pdf

3. Inert dusts and their effects on the poultry red mite (Dermanyssus gallinae)
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19160061/

The effectiveness of DE is definitely affected by humidity.. so if you live in a humid climate DE may not work as well...article 3 talks about this...If I remember correctly...it also needs to be applied for around 14 days for it to be effective... .

 

[El jimbo]

So, after revisiting some articles warning about the dangers of Diatomaceous Earth, and now I've successfully managed to freak myself out over chemicals that could make me sick.

Any reccomendations for things to prevent mites that won't kill
me in the future? This kind of stuff manages to freak me out a lot, so using better products would be more reassuring

Since Iv been using this product I'm now wearing a mask as I have now a crackle in my throat and read the instructions how dangerous it is I was shocked and when the sun hits the coop I can see the dust rising into the air which I was breathing into my lungs hence the new crackle in my throat yes it does kill the mites ! But I'm now very wary on how dangerous it is just a shame I didn't read instructions earlier ! I'm 65 and want to live to be a 100 let's just hope I do !

 

[El jimbo]

I have now got a crackle in my throat using this product and now wear a mask it's very dangerous for your lungs when I first used it I didn't realise how dangerous it was but after reading label and seeing the fine dust raise in the sun when cleaning out chickens I realised it was ! I have a full resporation mask like a fly type which I wear when cleaning out my chickens as the dust is dangerous read instructions on the box before using because I didn't

 

[Tennessee Denise]

Has anyone actually used DE and gotten sick from it? Or their birds? (Sorry for hijacking the thread )

I use DE for all my animals and never had any issues. I use food grade and mix it in with my bedding for chickens and my dogs (no mites or fleas). I also mix it in with food once a week for my 9 cats and they are all in their teens, no problems. I mix it in the bedding and let any dust settle before I allow my girls where it is mixed, so that they don't breath it.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I'll go through my thought process on why I decided to not use DE. Everybody needs to go through their own process and follow their own logic. I understand my logic often makes no sense to many people. We are all different.

1. First, I read the warnings on what precautions industrial workers that work with food grade DE need to take. Yes, FOOD GRADE. It involves breathing PPE (Personal Protective Equipment)

2. I read things like this about asbestos. I understand that not everybody that worked around asbestos came down with any of these diseases but many do. To me the "at least 10 years" means more than "can take as long as 35 years". I know DE is not asbestos (that's why it can be sold as it is) but the similarities are close enough for me to consider it.

All diseases caused by asbestos (including mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis) have an exceptionally long latency period. Lung cancer caused by asbestos can take as long as 35 years to develop. The amount of time the disease spends in latency is affected by how much exposure you’ve had to asbestos, and whether or not you have smoked. Smoking can promote the effects of carcinogens in the production of cancer.

Once asbestos fibers have been inhaled, their jagged microstructure can cause them to attach to the lung tissue. However, the actual development of lung cancer takes a long time. In order for lung cancer to be attributed to asbestos exposure, doctors say at least 10 years must have passed from the time of exposure to development of the cancer. Lung cancer has the highest chance of developing 30 to 35 years after exposure.

Tumor development usually begins after the asbestos fibers have caused enough:

• Irritation
• Inflammation
• Genetic damage

3. This was the hard one, you get so much conflicting information on the internet. I tried to figure out how DE is supposed to work. I think moisture is critical. For example, if it goes through your digestive tract the digestive juices should keep it wet so it doesn't do any damage to your system. Dry in the lungs is different.

4. I can identify other methods that I consider safe if I follow safety protocols that I know are effective. You should not breathe some of them either.

I personally did not see any good reason to use DE so I don't.