i have a little bug problem...and even though my chicken doesnt complain about the tasty treats running around...i wanted to spread some diamatacious earth (spelling?) around the area to get rid of all the cockroaches that just suddenly came out of nowhere. Will this harm the chicken at all...or does the earth only effect bugs?

thanks

-- D of CA (muhawi@aol.com), September 07, 2001

Answers

It won't harm the chickens.

In fact, some folks intentionally feed their animals DE in the hopes that it will wipe out parasites of the gut.

-- Paul Wheaton (paul@javaranch.com), September 07, 2001.

I agree with the above statement--it's used also to kill mites on chickens. However, that would be a very high protein snack for your chickens.

-- Ann Markson (tngreenacres@hotmail.com), September 07, 2001.

I thought i hit "submit" the 1st time i typed this, so i apoligize in advance if this post shows up again!

It's important to use *food grade* DE only if you're going to add it to the chicken's feed, and NOT the DE with insecticide added.

Here's a web page on DE you might be interested in checking out:

http://www.showpoultry.com/bpf/products/de.html

-- Buk Buk (bukabuk@hotmail.com), September 07, 2001.

I feed food grade Diatomaceous Earth to my large livestock, poultry, and dogs. It can be free fed or fed daily by measurement. You can't overdose DE, but if the proper amount isn't fed, it won't deworm your critters.

I mix the DE into the poultry feed ~ 2% of the feed. DE is loaded with trace minerals, and the chicks can't handle it, so I don't put it in their feed until they're 3 months old. I also leave piles of DE around for the birds to dust bathe. My birds have never had lice/mites/scaly leg.

Sprinkle the DE in the pens and there won't be any odor. Any insects that the birds don't eat will be killed by the DE. DE doesn't poison; it slits the outer skin and dehydrates the insect. It will not affect earthworms.

Industrial grade DE is heated/treated/ground larger for use in swimming pool filters and other products. It will not kill insects, but could kill your critters. Be sure to use food/agriculture grade DE.

-- ~Rogo (rogo2020@yahoo.com), September 08, 2001.

Aromatic red cedar shavings for furry pets like guinea pigs and mice used as bedding material in the henhouse (about 2 to 4 inches deep) also helps a lot - insects don't like the aromatic nature of it, which is why it's used in closets to deter moths.

-- Claudia Glass (glasss2001@prodigy.net), September 15, 2001.

Diatamacious earth is ok - avoid dolomitic limestone products. Dolomitic will cause problems with egg production.

-- Claudia Glass (glasss2001@prodigy.net), September 21, 2001.