The Dogmother Posted September 16, 2005 Share Posted September 16, 2005 I dust the Eglu as Gallina suggests and put some in their dustbath. I put a little in the food once or twice a week (when I remember really). They seem to eat it and i haven't seen any bugs on them yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted September 16, 2005 Share Posted September 16, 2005 I've been adding a little to their mash daily (when I remember) as they only seem to eat it when it's got Diatom in it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicola H Posted September 16, 2005 Share Posted September 16, 2005 If you check out the SPR Centre site they say the dosage is 5% in poultry food, the peanut will just hold 1kg of mash so at this rate you would use 50g which when weighed out looks a lot but a peanut of food lasts my 3 about 5 to 6 days, but as Kate says mine are eating far more mash with the Diatom added............I also sprinkle the Eglu with it every time I give it a complete wash out paying attention to the ends of the roosting bars and I add some to the dustbath.........As you can see I am now an expert on Diatom usage.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted September 16, 2005 Share Posted September 16, 2005 That's interesting Kate - I've noticed that the cats wolf down their food when it has Diatom in it. There's something on the bumf about it making food more palatable, but I don't see how. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicola H Posted September 16, 2005 Share Posted September 16, 2005 It improves an animals appetite by clearing out all the nasties in the gut a bit like our version of a probiotic drink........ Farmers in America have used it for years in their grain stores to keep bugs out of the animal feed....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 16, 2005 Share Posted September 16, 2005 I wonder if it would be a good idea to put some in my sack of food? I think it might sink to the bottom with pellets. I gave some Diatom-coated sweetcon to my chickens this evening, and they gobbled it up. I also rubbed it into the edge of every roosting bar, so that the edges were quite smooth. (It did make me think, however, whether it would be a good idea to smooth the edges with some wood-filler so there was nowhere for red mite to live in the first place. Is this a good idea? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted September 16, 2005 Share Posted September 16, 2005 Looks like we're back to the plastic roosting bars thread from somewhere else! I understand why they use wood - more natural and looks better, but I would be against having plasti ones, epecially if it gives the nasties fewer places to hide. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gallina Posted September 16, 2005 Share Posted September 16, 2005 I like the wooden roosting bars, and have never seen a red mite on them. It's just the rough sawn ends that are the problem, as the mites hide deep inside them. As I rubbed the Diatom into the sawn ends to make them quite smooth, it reminded me of using filler, and I began to wonder why I didn't just fill them with wood filler and have done with it. But where would the mites go then? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diana1 Posted September 17, 2005 Share Posted September 17, 2005 Being a new Eglu owner, I am wondering if I need to provide an extra dust bath for my chooks, they do get a chance to free range in the garden for approx 1/2hr - 3 hrs a day. So as you seem to have had such luck, please can you tell me what size and content your dust baths are? I'm sure two dust baths would take up most of my run! Thanks They've made their own dustbaths in the bark/soil medium on which the eglu is placed. There is no sign of mites and I think I might leave off any diatrom usage until i have a problem. The hens seem to be very healthy and I thank omlet for that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted September 17, 2005 Share Posted September 17, 2005 Mine lay down in the veggie garden and dustbathe to their hearts content against the fence! They all cram into the same hole and kick dirt at each other - it doesn't matter how small the hole in the ground is, they've all got to be in it at the same time! They'll make dustbaths in a tiny bit of spilt soil on the ground or under a shrub. It doesn't have to be a formal affair. They'll find their own place! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rachel19 Posted September 18, 2005 Share Posted September 18, 2005 In the girls old run they had such a deep dust bath you could only see the top of their combs by the time they had squashed themselves in there!!! Now we have moved them they've made themselves another one - not so deep (yet) but they're working on it I think chickens will find a way to do what they have to do wherever they are, they seem quite resourceful in a dense kind of way bless them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happymama Posted September 18, 2005 Share Posted September 18, 2005 Yes Lizzie, I am definatly going to try the flower pot idea...they seem to like the pots with flowers in, so should love the ones without, to roll about in.. Mine roll in the flower pots full of the remains of the flowers. And the flowerbeds, the herb garden, my peony is going to sulk next year 'cos they hate having their topsoil disturbed, and they've dug a big hole under the hebe that one of the cats hibernates in on windy days. Those of you who use sand as a lining in your eglu station, how often do you change it and how? I prefer that to bark, somehow, and will be making the winter station towards the end of this month. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted September 18, 2005 Share Posted September 18, 2005 We take anything solid out of the sand fairly regularly and rake it over well. When it's particularly dirty or has disappeared thanks to overenthusiastic dustbathing we either rake out the dirty stuff or top up where it's a bit low. I like to buy a few bags of sand every month and just add to what's left over to give them a nice clean start. Mine aren't in the Eglu run but have a larger enclosure with a sand base. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minky Posted April 26, 2007 Share Posted April 26, 2007 Just a quick question - what kinda depth of 'dust' should one's dustbath be? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted April 26, 2007 Share Posted April 26, 2007 I just fill a deepish cat litter tray with soil and ash. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minky Posted April 26, 2007 Share Posted April 26, 2007 Cracking, (topical terminology, oh yes,) fankoo! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted April 26, 2007 Share Posted April 26, 2007 It all ends up on the floor any way! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buffie Posted April 26, 2007 Share Posted April 26, 2007 I use a cat litter tray and soil, they love it BBx The hens use it not me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minky Posted April 26, 2007 Share Posted April 26, 2007 The hens use it not me And I thought that was compost in your hair. Your secret's out! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted April 26, 2007 Share Posted April 26, 2007 I've now got this vision of you squatting in the cat litter tray Buffie! Laughing so hard they think I've gone completely mad Mind you, knowing you like I do, I wouldn't put it past you!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sarahw Posted April 26, 2007 Share Posted April 26, 2007 Where do you buy the diatom from ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted April 26, 2007 Share Posted April 26, 2007 It's in the omlet shop Sarah http://www.omlet.co.uk/shop/shop.php?cat=Chicken%20Extras&sub=food&product_id=230 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted April 26, 2007 Share Posted April 26, 2007 Click here! Diatom and Diatomaceous Earth are the same thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted April 26, 2007 Share Posted April 26, 2007 You beat me to it Claret. Great minds! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted April 26, 2007 Share Posted April 26, 2007 yet again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
