Will DE harm the "good guys" in compost?

[BlackBart]

Quote:
I mean both things, really, depending on the particular situation (sometimes one, sometimes the other, sometimes both at once).

Pat

I always used ag lime, never had a problem with pests or smell. My parents, Grandparents GGrandparents etc. all used lime for livestock purposes. I switched to DE because somebody told me it was super fantastic. I found it not as good and more expensive than lime. I switched back.
Plus the used bedding already has lime in it for the compost.

 

[Tatubela]

I'm trying to dig more info on DE and have found a number of people claiming it kills the soil, or by destroying the soil's culture it sterilizes it after a while. On top of that, if it affects human's respiratory systems, how would it not affect a chicken's?

I've been using DE for a while on the coop and around the run to deter ants –which aren't bothering anybody really, but me– but I'm rethinking this whole DE strategy as to not unleash a chain of events that I'd later regret. DE on the chickens may lead to respiratory issues, DE on coop and run that i clean up and then put aside to compost... hummmmm. Even in a damp, or wet environment, DE does not dilute - or does it? It is claim to never go away, since it is already microscopic.

 

[goldfishes]

I am new to chicken keeping, but an old hat with Diatomaceous Earth, both in the aquarium hobby and in gardening. For those that may not know, DE is the "skeletal remains" of unicellular algae-like plants called diatoms. Being that the majority of the remains are made of silica, it can be an irritant to the lungs. It is much like inhaling sand dust, but a finer grade. For the majority of people, you'll never inhale enough to do more than irritate your passages. Those that have to really be concerned are those in the process of mining, packaging or handling it on a daily basis in larger quantities. And of course, anyone with severe allergies or any respiratory illnesses should take precautions such as wearing a mask and gloves when applying. But for a sprinkle here or there, unless you are flinging it around, you'll probably not even so much as sneeze. Just practice common sense when applying it.

It does cut the exoskeletons of insects and even tears the soft bodied insects such as slugs and worms that crosses it path, but once it becomes wet, it is pretty much useless. I've used it in my garden for years as a deterrent, but given it rains here constantly, it doesn't have a long lasting effect. It has gotten into my compost piles, my vegetable gardens, flower beds and there has been no ill effect. Still lots of healthy bugs and microscopic bacteria flourishing. I suspect you'd have to add a lot of DE to the point you are drying out all the animal waste that the deep litter method doesn't even have the opportunity to work.