eggscombobulated Posted December 2, 2008 Share Posted December 2, 2008 Should the chickens be sprinkled with diatom weekly or is that being a tad too fussy? There food has it , their cube, the run......am I being overzealous?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted December 2, 2008 Share Posted December 2, 2008 I only dust their armpits and botties when I remember (every couple of months ). It gets dusted round the roosting bars weekly though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cordelia Posted December 3, 2008 Share Posted December 3, 2008 i dust their perches and nest...liberally....weekly I'd say... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JM Posted December 3, 2008 Share Posted December 3, 2008 I've been using it regularly and have just bought some more. This time I read the sheet that was sent with it. I'm not an expert in diatoms, and I may be wrong, but I think care has to be taken with it - especially regarding breathing it in when you are applying it (it could cause serious lung disease with long term use) - but also if you compost it. As diatoms are fossils, the powder won't degrade, so will always be there. If you compost for a long time, the concentration of the diatom power in the compost will build up, and could have a degrading effect on beneficial insects - it doesn't just kill red mite, it will kill other insects and beasties (scientific term there) in the soil. So although it is a great product, I have decided to be a bit more cautious about using it. But I'm quite happy if someone tells me my thinking is wrong! J Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gallina Posted December 5, 2008 Share Posted December 5, 2008 I use Diatom very sparingly indeed. You are right about it being very dangerous if inhaled: I imagine that goes for the hens too. I certainly wouldn't use it like talcum powder. I am not sure about its effect on a compost heap. I make a new heap every few months, and the quantity of Diatom in my heap would not amount to more than a tablespoon, so it isn't going to damage that many micro-organisms. And presumably it doesn't remain razor-sharp for ever? Certainly if it was going on the compost heap in bucket-loads it would be a serious cause for concern. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted December 5, 2008 Share Posted December 5, 2008 It is recommended for vegetable plots and is quite good at keeping slugs at bay so I wouldn't imagine that it would disrupt the composting process too much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JM Posted December 5, 2008 Share Posted December 5, 2008 Thanks for the sanit checks Galina and Egluntine! - I was puffing it about before (while holding my breath!! ) - I'm a bit more careful now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surferdog Posted December 5, 2008 Share Posted December 5, 2008 I put it in the dustbath but the chooks scoff the lot - is it likely to do them any harm? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JM Posted December 5, 2008 Share Posted December 5, 2008 I don't think it's a problem if they eat it - it's more a problem with breathing in the particles when in the air. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
