Diatomaceous Earth (DE)

[MrsKuhn]

SO use both ? @Latestarter

Is barn lime better?

 

[Latestarter]

You have to be careful with lime as when wet it can burn (if you get the wrong type). Lime "sweetens" the soil by bringing up the PH of acidic soils. It's not really the acidity of the urine that causes the issues... I mean you're not going to be planting a garden in their shelter... It's the ammonia smell that is most offensive, and the most problem with regard to respiratory issues. So the PDZ will really solve the true "issue" better than the lime.

 

[sadieml]

@MrsKuhn - The DE you referenced is NOT food grade, it says "Food Chemical Codex Grade". It is safe for in animal feed, technically, and can even be used to treat for fleas, but it is not preferable. I would not want to inhale this, even though it is "pharmaceutical" grade. You know, the FDA doesn't care for our babies like we do. I know "food grade" costs twice as much, but it really is worth it for the peace of mind. You can be certain that, in moderation, it is safe to inhale, and will NOT be harmful. As poor as we are, I use the "pharma" grade for dusting around my house against bugs, but would not want to risk my, my family's or our aminals' well-being with anything less than food grade.

 

[MrsKuhn]

Thank you @sadieml we ended up purchasing the 50 pound Perma-Guard

 

[Prairie Fleur]

I used DE on my horses, it made their hooves hard and strong. I didn't notice any reduction in flies and did not run fecals to check for worms. They looked slick and healthy to me. I used DE because it is safe for dung beetles. It can't be mixed with water, as it settles to the bottom. I sprinkled it over their feed. For a goat, I would think a tablespoon or two.

@sadieml DE is not good to breathe, whether food grade or swimming pool grade. The swimming pool grade has been heated, which makes it like glass shards, hence the "do not ingest" warning about swimming pool DE. The food grade DE carries a warning not to inhale. I dusted the portable building I used for a feed shed, around the edges for roaches. It worked, but when I swept out the building, I used a paper face mask.

Recently, the feed store offered us 500 pounds of weevil infested crimped corn, which we gladly took. We mixed DE in it and put it in a big trash can outside, well away from our feed shed. The pigs eat it. Do they also get the benefit from the DE and thus no worms? I don't know. We also give the pigs acorns and pecans we raked up, so they get the benefit of the tannins from them. Worms? They certainly look healthy to me. I haven't collected poop and taken to the vet, so I can't give you an absolute either way. But I know they are gaining weight, growing and will soon go to slaughter.

How much did you use for your horses? Do you use conventional wormers as well?

 

[Baymule]

How much did you use for your horses? Do you use conventional wormers as well?

I use Ivermectin in the early spring, before dung beetle activity and in the fall, after dung beetle activity ceases.

 

[farmerjan]

We use DE in our cattle and chicken feed and our free choice mineral mixes, and it does keep the worm situation much more manageable. The feed mill makes our feed and we buy it by the ton since we are a fairly big cattle operation. We use 150 lbs PER TON of feed so I think you are using alot in comparison. I also use it in a dust box mixed with wood ashes. Have dusted it on animals that have lice like the cattle often get in the spring about the time they shed.
I have also seen a big reduction in flies once the cattle have ingested it and it passes into the manure and the flies that lay eggs in the manure, the larvae that do hatch die off. Of course free range chickens will scratch those piles and make them less attractive to egg laying flies and they will eat any hatched larvae before they mature into flies also.

Agricultural lime is good for using in stalls etc for control of smell by neutralizing the acidity of the urine. It will not hurt the compost pile or the garden. Do not use lime that is for mixing in cement and such.