Posted: 8/14/2017 7:54:02 AM EDT
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Recently noticed small black bugs in the chicken coop when cleaning it out. Googled and found little info.
I have 7 birds that free range and I lock them up at night. They have been slowing down egg production lately? We clean the cool once every week to week and a half at most. I read about some powder called DE? To sprinkle in the coop and on the birds. Thinking maybe something more powerful for the coop when the birds not in it and then the powder for the. It's themselves. What you guys think? |
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DE is simply diatomaceous earth . It's deadly to insects, which have a hard exoskeleton-- it scratches the shell of the insect, the insect then carries it back to the nest, and then dies due to dehydration. The other insects then eat it and the DE gets into their digestive tracts, and tears them up from inside. (At least, this is how it works with roaches.)
I wouldn't sprinkle the animals with it until I check with the vet. In fact, check with your vet (or online somewhere) to see if it's OK to use. Get food-grade DE if you do use this, as there is other stuff that has chemicals mixed with it. Here's another article about using it in your henhouse. |
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De is safe around chickens. In fact, it should be a small part of their feed rations to keep intestinal worms at Bay.
Gtg to sprinkle it on them, although it being mixed in as part of a dust bath works best. Don't go crazy with the stuff, don't handle it bare handed, your hand will look mummified, ask me how I know... |