Is this the right DE?

squirrelgirl · #1 12/31/06, 03:36 PM

I was checking about some DE and was wondering if the DE Crawling Insect Killer from 7 Springs Farm is safe to give my milking goats? I saw a past post about DE that said 7 Springs had the DE but this is the only one I saw. I have a local 7 Springs dealer that is in my town and it would be convientent to get it from them. Thanks in advance!

chicky momma · #2 12/31/06, 03:45 PM

Squirrel girl,

Not sure whether this is the right one or not. Read the ingredients on the bag, this will tell you if its just DE or pesticides added. Not sure what you're going to do with it. Feed it to goats? Dust them with it? I bought some once that said Safer on it but still contained pesticides and the dealer had claimed it didn't. Lisa

squirrelgirl · #3 12/31/06, 06:36 PM

I was going to use it as a dust and feed it to them. I had read you could you both ways.

susanne · #4 12/31/06, 06:42 PM

please be careful with dusting your animals with it. at least wear a dust mask.
may i ask why do you want to feed DE to your goats?
in my opinion DE is a very nice parasite control for the manure pile and the bedding. stops the fly eggs from hatching.
it does not control lice on goats. it also is not suitable as a wormer.
DE only works if it is dry.
i think using it to dust the animals do more harms on their lungs than doing any good.

Jcran · #5 12/31/06, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by susanne

please be careful with dusting your animals with it. at least wear a dust mask.
may i ask why do you want to feed DE to your goats?
in my opinion DE is a very nice parasite control for the manure pile and the bedding. stops the fly eggs from hatching.
it does not control lice on goats. it also is not suitable as a wormer.
DE only works if it is dry.
i think using it to dust the animals do more harms on their lungs than doing any good.

How do you use it on the bedding? What amount? I've got a 5 lb bag from Hoegger in the barn and was going to feed it, what the heck, but if it's more appropriate for larva control in bedding, I'm all for that!

Jcran · #6 12/31/06, 09:25 PM

OOPS...also wanted to ask about only working when it's dry....I live in a rainforest!!! Will it work in wet manure piles? Will it work on moist underbedding (sprinkle with DE then rebed over that?)

GrannyCarol · #7 12/31/06, 09:47 PM

Be sure to check that it is 1% or less crystalline Silica before you feed it to them. If it is high in crystalline silica, it is not suitable for a feed, but is harmful to them to eat or breathe. I've been doing a lot of reading on DE and the testimonials say that if you feed the proper type, it will cut down on flies in the manure. It didn't say that it was only effective when dry - seems it abrades the surface of the insects and then they dehydrate, so drier might well be more effective, but without their shells, even in the wet, insects will die.

So, look for pesticides added and look for food grade DE before you feed it! If what you have is not suitable for feeding, try it on the manure to keep down flies.