- Nov 18, 2014
- 5
- 1
- 11
I'm getting mixed messages on Diatomaceous Earth for dust bathing. I need info from experienced chicken people.
Dust Bathing in Diatomaceous Earth
- Thread starter larsen202
- Start date
From what I understand it is okay to add food grade DE to the dusting areas, it can have some value as a preventative/deterrant to lice. However if the birds are already infested with lice DE will not kill off the lice and clear up the infestation. You will need Sevin (vegetable dust) or poultry dust to actually get rid of an established infestation. And you will need to dust all areas, coop, run, roosts, and birds themselves, and wear a mask while dusting.
If you have access to wood ash you can use it for the dusting areas or have a small kiddy pool of ash for a designated bathing area. It's an inexpensive deterrent to parasites.
the poppster
Songster
Yes I've mixed it in with the Sandy soil for my birds...I've also mixed wood ashes, crushed mint, oregano, dried crushed tansy leaves, peat moss, cheap bag soil (no additives)...I built a 4x4 ft Dust box for the birds...they spend the best part of the winter between their coop and a big covered run...
Always use FOOD GRADE ( <1% crystalline silica). As members above have suggested, just mix in a bit in their regular dust bathing area.
We have a fire pit where we burn nothing but raked up leaf clutter and branches - so, the wood ash and topsoil do the job. In the coop/shed we just add a couple of cups of amorphous diatomaceous earth (ADE) into the sand base & wood chip bedding. The stuff is a desiccant and can ABsorb up to 4 times its wt. in water so using straight ADE on Chooks, as primary material for dust bathing, isn't a good idea (just jam one's hand down into a bag of ADE and wait five minutes - one will require considerable "lotion" to soften one's hand afterwards - same with chook's skin).
ADE, like other Sorptive Dusts, kills by ADsorption of the lipids from the outer covering of insect's chitinous exoskeletons which results in insect's fluids "leaking out", at which point the ADE then ABsorbs those fluids. ADE is more effective when relative humidity is low, some species of insects are more sensitive than others to the effect (Wood Roaches hanging out under the waterer remain too damp to give a "damp"). Even a light dusting & mixing of bedding before applying to floor will, most often, go a long way to drying out droppings.
Pretty useful and, if one can get a 50lb bag at the feed store for ~$25, pretty cheap preventative/desiccant. A slow acting, sorptive, insecticide (primarily used to knock down weevil populations in grain storage).
We have a fire pit where we burn nothing but raked up leaf clutter and branches - so, the wood ash and topsoil do the job. In the coop/shed we just add a couple of cups of amorphous diatomaceous earth (ADE) into the sand base & wood chip bedding. The stuff is a desiccant and can ABsorb up to 4 times its wt. in water so using straight ADE on Chooks, as primary material for dust bathing, isn't a good idea (just jam one's hand down into a bag of ADE and wait five minutes - one will require considerable "lotion" to soften one's hand afterwards - same with chook's skin).
ADE, like other Sorptive Dusts, kills by ADsorption of the lipids from the outer covering of insect's chitinous exoskeletons which results in insect's fluids "leaking out", at which point the ADE then ABsorbs those fluids. ADE is more effective when relative humidity is low, some species of insects are more sensitive than others to the effect (Wood Roaches hanging out under the waterer remain too damp to give a "damp"). Even a light dusting & mixing of bedding before applying to floor will, most often, go a long way to drying out droppings.
Pretty useful and, if one can get a 50lb bag at the feed store for ~$25, pretty cheap preventative/desiccant. A slow acting, sorptive, insecticide (primarily used to knock down weevil populations in grain storage).
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In my honest opinion the only thing DE will get rid of is money from your wallet. While dusting birds may be minimally effective against mites as stated above it won't get rid of them, it also won't be effective at treating the coop, most coops are not completely dry, putting DE in a damp environment is pointless. DE is really pushed on this forum by many people who want to keep their birds away from drugs or pesticides but the fact is that drugs and pesticides are the only real guaranteed way to eliminate the pest.
bigt447
Chirping
- Jul 10, 2015
- 170
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I use DE to dry poop in coop & pen .....it almost totally eliminates odor as it dries it out.... So I don't have to clean those areas as often.
I don't plan to inhale DE ever, and don't want my birds to have to live in it either. When lice or mites arrive, I will use permethrin to kill them, otherwise not. My birds dust bathe in sandy soil, and sometimes a little wood ash added. I'm totally with blu on this issue. Mary
I agree, coops are dusty enough as it is, I'm sure I've inhaled plenty of nasty crap in my construction career this far and don't care to sprinkle anything in my coop that can cause silicosis
I don't like the fact that DE kills all of the beneficial "bugs" in my deep litter. I want the litter to be able to compost naturally.
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