jomaxsmith Posted December 18, 2007 Share Posted December 18, 2007 Just popped into the local Poultry Centre to buy some Diatom to add to my hens' new cat litter tray dust bath and was surprised to see that it cost £35 for a bucket sized container. Is that reasonable? Is it an essential or a luxury product, would you say? I told dh the price and his comment was that it cost more than the hens so I guess that means he doesn't want me to buy it!! Thanks for any thoughts on this Jo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted December 18, 2007 Share Posted December 18, 2007 Tricky one. I use it on the roosting bars but only because everyone on the forum has recommended it. Don't actually know if it works but I've certainly not had any beasties (yet). I suppose you could just use it as a cure when/if you get an infestation rather than using it preventatively. This is where I got mine from http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/spr/page12.html I bought the shaker size which I suppose is quite pricy but it's going to last me ages. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
feemcg Posted December 18, 2007 Share Posted December 18, 2007 I researched quite a bit when I bought mine and found the cheapest to be Flyte So Fancy. I add a tablespoon to the feeders when I fill them and dust the chooks with it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura & CTB Posted December 19, 2007 Share Posted December 19, 2007 I bought the bucket size as I was at SPR poultry so thought I'd stock up - I use it on the roosting bars and mixed in with their dustbath. Over a year later and it's still half full. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted December 19, 2007 Share Posted December 19, 2007 I bought a bucket sized one too. Have made very little inroads into it. I just put it on the ends of the roosting bars and occasionally into their feed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisa33 Posted December 19, 2007 Share Posted December 19, 2007 I bought a big tub from Flyte So Fancy and have hardly made a dent in it. I put it in their food and on their roosting bars. No bugs here (yet) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatsCube Posted December 19, 2007 Share Posted December 19, 2007 I have a difffernt make one that I got in one of the squeezy bottles for about £2, lasts ages as it just gets a squeeze over the roosting bars when cleaning out the house, and another couple of squeezes into the dust bath. cant really comment on how good it is, as I havent had my chooks that long. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted December 19, 2007 Share Posted December 19, 2007 I use it in the eglu and their feed and get through a fair amount - Omlet now do the big bucket size int he shop (after I nagged them)http://www.omlet.co.uk/shop/shop.php?cat=Feed&sub=Chicken%20food&product_id=625 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted December 19, 2007 Share Posted December 19, 2007 I use the red mite powder which is in a sort of Pringles tube with a talc like shaker opening. It's £8.95, but I've never had any lice or mites! The diatom in a bucket from the same place is £25 something. But I like the smell of the red mite powder, makes the chooks smell all tea tree oily - like they have just had an aromatherapy spa bath!!!! Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...