Diatomaceous earth.

[The Truth Is Out There]

Why would a sink need cleaned? Isn't it always just being filled with soap and water?
You make no sense to me.

If this is a joke... haha!

If not.... sinks are used to wash dirty hands, dishes, you name it.
The dirt sticks to the sides and creates a film. Not to mention soap scum and a grime that I do not know scientifically what it is? But it is GROSS. And therefore has to be scrubbed to clean it.

But since I think this is a joke...
you are very silly. ;0)

 

[Mother-Hen-Michele]

On a fly-strike open wound I will wash out everything and powder the bum with DE so if more of the eggs hatch they die a painful death. It isn't more useful than that. I have a huge bag I bought years ago... I put it on the floor of the house (bottom cupboards) if I see ants. Waiting for an any ants to use it up... But they aren't making a dent in that big bag. Wasted money.

 

[Birds of paradise]

when tossed on ant hills/mounds and not around the chickens at all. There are many people who recommend it for various reasons. One of the only beneficial reasons I can personally think of is mixing it into feed in order to control Indian Feed Moths or Weevils.

The manner in which DE is effective means it cannot work when wet. Which means it serves ZERO purpose for a bird to ingest it. There are some things to be said for dusting in it, but why not use something that will actually work and not cause issues for you or the birds when you breathe it in?

Suggestions? I'm new to owning backyard chickens. I have a small flock, but I saw a mite run up my one chicken's leg and would like to know how best to treat and then preventative measures. I have 2 guinea pigs as well. If there is something that would be safe for both, that would be even better.

 

[ColtHandorf]

Suggestions? I'm new to owning backyard chickens. I have a small flock, but I saw a mite run up my one chicken's leg and would like to know how best to treat and then preventative measures. I have 2 guinea pigs as well. If there is something that would be safe for both, that would be even better.

Permethrin. @casportpony can give you more detailed instructions for application on chickens.

 

[Rnpasfga]

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21673156/

 

[Rnpasfga]

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29045630/

 

[Rnpasfga]

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22458590/

 

[Hayylee]

I had 2 cats, 2 separate times, that were skin and bones, they were eating like crazy, figured they had internal worms. So I put Diotanatious Earth on their food and after about a week or so they started gaining their weight back and looking healthy again. Seems that it worked for them, twice. And the entire inside of cats are wet. Hmmmmmm, seems that it should work just fine for chickens too. But that's just my own personal experience saving 2 cats lives.

 

[Painted Calls]

I had 2 cats, 2 separate times, that were skin and bones, they were eating like crazy, figured they had internal worms. So I put Diotanatious Earth on their food and after about a week or so they started gaining their weight back and looking healthy again. Seems that it worked for them, twice. And the entire inside of cats are wet. Hmmmmmm, seems that it should work just fine for chickens too. But that's just my own personal experience saving 2 cats lives.

That would have been a coincidence then.

 

[RoyalChick]

https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-1531/diatomaceous-earth

That is a very interesting study. The mechanism of action suggested when used internally has nothing to do with its scratchy exoskeleton effects when used to dust externally.
It is one study but perhaps we shouldn’t all be so quick to dismiss DE.
Thank you for posting it (several times!).