For the sake of spelling lets call it DE. does anyone have any experience with this stuff? I hear folks with horses have been using it for years with great success. It gets rid of lice, fleas, even the smallest mites. I have been using it for a couple of months in nest boxes and 'bathing areas" I am now starting to see some difference in my "pecked" hens. Hope to hear from someone more knowlegable..
diatomaceous earth?
diggered,
I have never used any thing that I haven't heared of but does it work well???
Tracey
Hi biggered , Im asking that same question! We are having a terrible flea problem here already this summer, and nothing ges rid of them! we cant walk out side for them! Our little Chihuahua , Mr. Pepe, is covered every time he goes out! Nothing works on him to protect him from the nasty little critters! We heard that the DE would do it , but I've not spoken to any one that has actually tried it!
Eufaula, You have D-mail.....biggered,
Does it work around chickens???
Eufaula, are you having a nice day???
How are your chickens and chicks???
Tracey
Thanks Tracey , I am having a great day , thank youvery much for asking! Check out the thread about turkeys and you will see!
Yes, I am using it on my chickens right now. I just dump it on the ground where they take their "dirt bath". it is not an instant quick fix, but after 2 months, I see less picking on each other because they dont have mites. and Yes, you can use it on your dog. Just dust it on him, or rub it right into his coat. You will see a difference. I also put he DE in the nesting boxes. anywhere to get it on their bodies.
Eufaula,
If you have fleas in your grass so bad that your dog is covered with them each time he comes in, THAT is a serious infestation problem! When they get that bad in your yard, it's only a matter of time till they completely infest your house. - I've had that happen to me before when I had pets in my home! One day, I put on white sweatpants, and I could see the fleas jump right out of my carpet and onto my pant legs, trying to bite me!! ...I put that to a stop real quick!! I called my "bug man"! ...End of problem!
Like me, you might need a professional bug exterminator to come out and treat your yard - at least the area that you and your family "lives" on, just outside your house..... and possibly the inside of your home as well. - At the very least, it shouldn't cost anything to have an exterminator come out and give you a quote on treating your yard, and possibly, your home. ....People that I know who have had fleas that bad in their grass before, couldn't get rid of them themselves. They ended up calling an exterminator. Professionals have the chemicals and sprayers to get the job done right, and they'll put down the safest chemicals possible and tell you (if) you have to stay off of it till it's dry, etc. They should also be able to tell you how long the treatment will last, and if it doesn't last as long as they say it should, a reputable exterminator will come out and retreat it again at no added cost. The treatment should have some kind of short-term warranty.
If you don't know of any exterminators, ask around and see if anybody has used one and been happy with their service, or call your local Chamber of Commerce to see if they know of any.
For years, I have had our "bug man" come out each spring to spray the outside of our house for hornets and yellow jackets. Makes a world of difference.... I keep his number on my "speed dial"! lol
~~ Glenda
Thanks Glenda! Ive tried that before but it just never seems to work! Plus the fact that Im very allergic to commercial Chemicals! I have such a bad time even with flea powders and collars , I cant be around them! Silly Me!
I even called the county extention service for reccomendations and the Vet! They keep saying the same thing! The fleas are getting to be very resistant to standard controls! I have tried it all and have gone to bed very sick from the things they said to try! Ihave even lost bees and beneficial insects due to extermination around my home! Such a Quandry! Im thinking that since I havent tried the DE yet , It probably Couldnt be any more worse than all the Chemicals!
I do understand your concern and thank you for the suggestion, Glenda , You are a great DG friend !
Oh and Mr. Pepe, has now been quarantined to the house and puppy papers, for the summer!
YIKES Eufaula!! Wow, that's aweful!
Isn't DE "organic or natural"? That just may be the ticket for you. I don't know anything about DE though. Wish I could help....
Let us know how it does, should you try it.
:) Glenda
well, I use DE, and it works alright for me. I have used it for lice, but it didn't totally get rid of it on it's own. Now, the teacher voice inside me wants to remind everyone that it is basically made out of little tiny particles that you can ( but should not!) breathe in, so let's all ventilate, folks!
I think it is pretty good stuff. I don't think it is organic per se, but it is made of little tiny critters. I think you could give it a shot , Eu.This is what wikipedia says :
a naturally occurring, soft, chalk-like sedimentary rock that is easily crumbled into a fine white to off-white powder. This powder has an abrasive feel, similar to pumice powder, and is very light, due to its high porosity. The typical chemical composition of diatomaceous earth is 86% silica, 5% sodium, 3% magnesium and 2% iron.
Diatomaceous earth consists of fossilized remains of diatoms, a type of hard-shelled algae. It is used as a filtration aid, as a mild abrasive, as a mechanical insecticide, as an absorbent for liquids, as cat litter, as an activator in blood clotting studies, and as a component of dynamite. As it is also heat-resistant, it can be used as a thermal insulator.
BYH, your right about not breathing it in. The horticulturalist at our county extension office told me that she breathed it in when she used it and it really messed her breathing up. She said she coughed, etc., for a long time. It was weeks before she got back to normal.
Hmmm, I think irratation against being poisoned is a no brainer for me! I'll have to see about getting some and trying it out for sure! Thanks guys!
I usually wear a mask when I clean the coop so I wont inhale to much of the dust and stuff anyway! ONe thing for sure , I've inhaled enough Natural Fertilizer , that might be why Im so fat and healthy! LOL!!!!
DE also looses its effectiveness after getting wet - if it rains it should be reapplied.
thanks all! I called around to all the local garden , hardware and Feed stores and only one even knew what I was talking about!!! They had it though, It is in 4 pound bags and is a Whopping 10.99 a bag! Whooooeeee, I guess I'll try it on Pepe first and then put the rest in the coop in a big pan for the girls dust bath, and we'll see!
I will try it too :) Thank you ..
Tracey
Here is what the Clallam County Extension in Washington State advises about Diatomaceous Earth:
Diatomaceaous Earth
Diatomaceaous earth is a mined mineral product. It is the fossilized remains of single-celled organisms that lived millions of years ago (diatoms). Diatomaceaous earth works on insects by puncturing their outer protective layer causing death by dehydration. It comes formulated alone or with pyrethrin insecticides. Alone, it is virtually nontoxic to mammals. It is even added to animal feed to control intestinal parasites and worms. This fossil is the abrasive found in many toothpastes. In the home, it can be applied in the wall voids, attics and other out-of-the-way spots to kill such insects as ants, cockroaches and drywood termites. Sprinkled on carpets, it will kill fleas. As a barrier around garden beds, it discourages slugs and snails. Caution: only natural diatomaceaous earth should be used for pest control (not pool grade).
**NOTE THIS CAUTION!!
Also, here is a link to their page on pesticidal dusts:
http://clallam.wsu.edu/waterquality/pestdusts.html
They also recommend wearing goggles and a face mask when applying dusts because they can be irritating when airborne.
Margie