Where does everyone get their Diatomaceous Earth?

[Sonoran Silkies]

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can't tell for sure what Home depot sells because it doesn't say its safe for consumption?

Look at the bag label and read the ingredients. One or both may have an added pesticide, but yes, that IS the correct DE for using against bugs. It has not been heat treated (which makes for better filtration, but less effective dessication). If it has an added pesticide, you can use it for dust bathing, but not added to food. If no pesticide is added, you can use it exactly the same as the PermaGard brand.

IMO, adding it to food does nothing more than make droppings a bit drier.

 

[chickenfeverforever]

I thought adding it to their food was suppose to act as a dewormer?

 

[Tikkijane]

*nods* That's why I was hoping someone would have used this product and know for sure. There is a distributor in my area for the perma guard. Here's a link to another one that says it's agricultural food grade... http://www.ghorganics.com/DiatomaceousEarth.html.

Fwiw....

 

[Tikkijane]

Yay Chicks! :

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Unfortunately, I cannot read what the other ingredients are. You want to make certain it says "CODEX Food Grade" somewhere on the packaging It may also say "Fossil Shell Flour" on the packaging.

I'll have to check and see if they have something in the store and then read all the ingredients, checking for pesticides. Ideally, it would go in the sand in the run, but if they can't eat it (because they will eat the sand, lololol) then I will definitely have to order form one of the others.

 

[PineLaneFarms]

ive been having the exact same problem with TSC not just with the DTE but everything poultry related im even starting to worry i recieved cockerls when led to believe they were all pullets.

 

[Yay Chicks!]

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Seems to be the right kind of stuff. It could be that it is Perma Guard broken down into smaller bags. ??

 

[Yay Chicks!]

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Answering this question may likely throw this whole thread off the track of where to get DE and into a contentious argument about what it's good for. I would suggest that you do a search of BYC to attempt to answer your question. You'll find LOTS of discussion

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

DE works by drying, causing bugs and worms to dehydrate. The digestive system is a very moist/wet environment. Therefore it cannot dry out the worms. I have never seen an independant scientific study showing any efficacy as a dewormer. Virtually all the studies I have seen on DE are by its own industry. Even if you look at PermaGuard's own product label, they do not list is for deworming--they refer to it as an anti-caking material. And the best they can say from independant studies is that it "posed no threat" to chickens.

I have used DE and as a mechanical aid to preventing insects, it is somewhat effective. It is MOST effective at drying things, which can prevent fly and other insect eggs from being laid and hatching. As a dewormer? Hogwash.