Diatomaceous earth - to use or not???

[RedBarnHens]

Could I have anyone's opinion on the use of Diatomaceous Earth? I have been doing my research over the last few months as to what I need for my journey into chicken keeping and keep finding conflicting ideas about its use. I have to say that most of the negative reports have come from USA sources, and seem to focus upon it's bad impact on the environment but I am still slightly confused :?

 

[dinosaw]

I would advise using it Redbarn but be careful not to breathe it in as there is an associated risk of silicosis, I mix it with water and apply it as slurry in the coops. It is a very effective preventative and treatment for red mite and the only other thing with a similar effect is permethrin which is an insecticide which you also don't want to be ingesting in any quantity.

 

[valeriebutterley]

Hello RBH,
yes to DE, critters like redmite, lice are easily dealt with. A very light dusting on the bedding, perches, nooks and crannies keeps them at bay. I also
have a fine hair paintbrush that I use to paint both bottoms and necks with a fine dusting if I even see a feather mite, it seems to work well, and keep unwelcome pests away.

I try not too spread it around too much as it is incredibly fine.

 

[Marigold]

Yes it works -but do take the health warnings seriously. Being a silica, it works by abrading the exoskeleton of the mites so they dehydrate. Unfortunately if inhaled it does the same to your lungs, bad for asthmatics like me and also probably carcinogenic, and it has the same effect on the breathing of the chickens. Dinosaw's tip about making a slurry and painting it on is probably the safest way to handle it. If you use it as a dry dust, you should wear a suitable face mask. (Ideally, so should the hens who have to sleep in the coop with it....)
I never use it, as my plastic coop has never had any redmite. I put this down to the fact that wild birds are excluded from the run, which is also roofed so wild birds can't drop redmite off their feathers when landing on the top and shaking their feathers. That's how it gets in, and if you start with clean new equipment then redmite can probably be prevented.

 

[chickenfan]

Gosh - if there are so many risks I wonder why there are no health warnings? It looks like such a safe product.

 

[RedBarnHens]

Thank you everyone. It's sounds like a good product as long as care is taken with its use!

The inside of the coop is approx 6' x 7' and about 7' high. It was formerly a wooden sauna inside the end stable, so it gives me a bit of storage area between it and the exterior front wall. I've now had the old electrical sauna equipment removed, including the wooden slatted beds, but will be re-using some of the wooden slats to use as roosts. I've bought joist hanging brackets to use with the roosts so that I can remove them easily for cleaning. I also intend to put a poop board under them. I need to borrow my son-in-law's drill (or maybe my son-in-law) to do all this when I return.

I also started painting the inside of the coop white, using a breathable silk emulsion paint, before we went away. This is helping me discover where the overlaps in the wood need sealing up. I'm also hoping this will make it easier to clean in the long run. The floor of the coop is covered in tiles which also come up the walls about 6" all around.

I'm going to use Aubiose bedding in the coop and on the concrete area outside (which will be covered).

 

[Marigold]

Wow! Real 5* accommodation! Fantastic!
I dont think you'll need a poop board, though - just cover the floor with Aubiose and pick up the coated overnight poo into a bucket each day. Literally, a 2- minute job to keep everything clean and sweet-smelling.

 

[rick]

Hello RBH,
yes to DE, critters like redmite, lice are easily dealt with. A very light dusting on the bedding, perches, nooks and crannies keeps them at bay. I also
have a fine hair paintbrush that I use to paint both bottoms and necks with a fine dusting if I even see a feather mite, it seems to work well, and keep unwelcome pests away.

I try not too spread it around too much as it is incredibly fine.

Just tried the fine paintbrush idea. Did them all in 5 mins using very little just where it was needed. Even got some reliably where I couldn’t see properly as the brush slips in under the feathers. Brilliant!

 

[valeriebutterley]

Thanks Rick,
yes I am aren't I?