Thoughts about diatomaceous earth

[Sillyna511]

I’m starting to research chicken worms prevention and deworming. My girls aren’t showing signs of being infested, but I have heard that, Because of where I live, I need to make sure and deworm them.

One friend said that diatomaceous earth is great and they use it as prevention, but an older lady that’s been raising chickens longer then I’ve been alive said don’t use diatomaceous earth!

So now I’m curious what about it can give that reaction. I wasn’t able to question her further so I couldn’t get her answer.

The only thing that I have been able to find is that it can affect their lungs and breathing but really only with pullets. Because everything is smaller.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

DE is a very fine, microscopic crystal. If it works at all, it's only effective when dry. Once it gets wet, it's totally compromised. So once it goes in the chicken's wet digestive system ... useless. If your area is humid ... useless. If you put it in the dust bath and it gets rained on ... useless. On the other hand, when dry it's abrasive. So it can irritate eyes (trust me, I know!), mucous membranes and respiratory membranes on contact until it gets wet enough to soften. None of this is good for chickens or people, dogs, cats or pretty much anybody.

I don't use or recommend it. It should go the way of snake oil. But that's just my opinion.

 

[Not-so Slick Chicken]

I’m starting to research chicken worms prevention and deworming. My girls aren’t showing signs of being infested, but I have heard that, Because of where I live, I need to make sure and deworm them.

One friend said that diatomaceous earth is great and they use it as prevention, but an older lady that’s been raising chickens longer then I’ve been alive said don’t use diatomaceous earth!

So now I’m curious what about it can give that reaction. I wasn’t able to question her further so I couldn’t get her answer.

The only thing that I have been able to find is that it can affect their lungs and breathing but really only with pullets. Because everything is smaller.

key points

- fine powder that's dangerous to breathe in

- inert in water (do nothing for internal parasites)

- can kill external bugs, but not instantaneous

 

[Not-so Slick Chicken]

DE is a very fine, microscopic crystal. If it works at all, it's only effective when dry. Once it gets wet, it's totally compromised. So once it goes in the chicken's wet digestive system ... useless. If your area is humid ... useless. If you put it in the dust bath and it gets rained on ... useless. On the other hand, when dry it's abrasive. So it can irritate eyes (trust me, I know!), mucous membranes and respiratory membranes on contact until it gets wet enough to soften. None of this is good for chickens or people, dogs, cats or pretty much anybody.

I don't use or recommend it. It should go the way of snake oil. But that's just my opinion.

You got to it before I did

 

[BigBlueHen53]

can kill external bugs, but not instantaneous

I sprinkled it generously all over the shield-shaped bugs that were sucking the lifeblood out of my squash and pumpkin plants one year and it didn't faze them one bit. My guess is Missouri is too humid and the DE was compromised.

 

[Not-so Slick Chicken]

I sprinkled it generously all over the shield-shaped bugs that were sucking the lifeblood out of my squash and pumpkin plants one year and it didn't faze them one bit. My guess is Missouri is too humid and the DE was compromised.

I'm not sure.
Supposedly it'll cause some bugs to "dry out" by essentially making itty bitty cuts like tiny shards of glass.
But no, they don't die in front of you. They'll keep doing what they do. The individual bugs just might die slightly quicker.

 

[sean_wonder]

I have had great results with DE, but only using food grade and only in very dry, well ventilated areas. If there's a bad infestation I use the pillowcase method (DE in the case, all of the chicken except head in the case, and poof poof poof-- do once a week for 2-3 weeks and clears right up!).

It is a risk to use if your coop is not well ventilated, and once it gets wet it's useless. Food grade has marginally larger crystals which makes it a bit safer, but still. It's cheap and it works.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I'm not sure.
Supposedly it'll cause some bugs to "dry out" by essentially making itty bitty cuts like tiny shards of glass.
But no, they don't die in front of you. They'll keep doing what they do. The individual bugs just might die slightly quicker.

I mean it didn't work at all. I sadly watched the bugs thrive and all my plsnts withered and died.