We are lovers of our back garden poultry and we are nature lovers. We do not use any chemicals on our homestead. So when I discovered diatomaceous earth (DE) powder I was so happy. It’s an inert naturally occurring material that is safe to use, it can even be eaten by chickens, that helps to control external parasites, especially red mite. It can be used liberally, there sort of isn’t really a limit to how much to use in your chicken coop or dust bath. For us we use a scoop in the dust bath and a scoop every time we clean the hen house.
How to use diatomaceous earth for chickens?
Diatomaceous earth is a natural substance that is made from ground up fossilised creatures which creates a crystalline silica powder. It is used widely by chicken owners to treat their flock and prevent red mite and other external parasites. As responsible chicken keepers we use food grade DE because our chickens will be consuming it. They peck in the coop and in their dust bath, so it will be getting into their guts!
There are a few ways that DE can be used.
1. Dust Bath
The most common is to mix the fine powder DE with other materials like sand, wood ash, compost or soil in a container that the chickens can use as a dust bath. We tend to mix around 5 – 8 parts sand, 3 parts wood ash and 1 part of the natural product DE. Although this amount varies depending on what materials we actually have available on the smallholding. And if there is no sand then soil or compost would work just as well.
We mix this up in a cat litter tray and the chickens like to bathe in it. They especially like to dust bathe in the sun, so if you can put your dust bath in a spot with direct sunlight it’s the best. We empty the tray out and refill every 2 – 4 weeks. It depends on how much they use it. As ours free range quite a lot it doesn’t get a lot of use, but once there are quite a few chicken poos in the dust bath we know that it’s time to change it. This is the most effective way that I know to provide pest control to my chickens. It reduces the parasite load making my birds happy and healthy.
2. Chicken Coop
Diatomaceous earth products can also be used in the chicken coop. The coop is where you might expect to get a red mite infestation. Using DE acts as a natural way to provide preventative treatment. Every time that we clean the hen house we sprinkle a good spoonful of DE powder across the perches and into the corners. We are looking to coat the spaces where the red mite are likely to hang out, which is the nooks and crannies of the coop.
This strategy means that every time the hens come in to roost they are naturally covering themselves in the DE powder. In addition they will spread the powder throughout the hen house by walking, pecking and scratching in there.
3. Food supplement
Personally, we don’t bother with this use of diatomaceous earth as we use it externally. However there are some people who mix DE in with their chicken food to give their chickens the benefits of the trace minerals that DE contains. It is thought to have a beneficial impact on internal parasites like worms as well as improving egg production with chickens fed on DE reported to produce larger eggs. However I have not found any proven clinical evidence that this is actually the case. If you do want to go down this route, the suggestion is to incorporate around 2 – 3% of the weight of the chicken food in DE. And to be fair it will probably do no harm.
How much diatomaceous earth do I put in a chicken dust bath?
Our ratio is around 5-8 parts of sand or soil, 3 parts wood ash and 1 part DE. This isn’t hard and fast, it’s just an estimate and the best way for us. You could use more DE. The main reason we use these proportions is that we have the first 2 ingredients available for free and we have to buy DE, so it is cheaper. Given that we have DE in our coop as well, we think this is enough of a coating for our flock. And don’t forget a lovely sprig of lavender or rosemary to make a beautiful aroma and make the benefits of those lovely essential oils available to your birds!
Can you give too much diatomaceous earth?
DE itself is an inert material, so there isn’t necessarily a limit for the amount to use in dust baths or coops.
Having said that, the risk with DE is that it can be a skin irritant and cause respiratory problems. It could irritate the internal lining of the mouth and nose of humans and the respiratory system of chickens. The fine dust nature of DE is what makes it a potential irritant. There are a few ways to deal with this, the first is to wear gloves and a face mask when using the product. The second is to monitor your flock closely. If they show signs of irritation of their respiratory system then decrease the amount of DE that you are using, or even stop using it.
When it comes to feeding DE to your flock then yes you can give too much diatomaceous earth. It should be a supplement to their diet, used in small proportions to enhance their skin and feathers. If they eat too much DE then they will not be eating enough essential nutrients from their regular chicken feed for optimal hen health.
How much diatomaceous earth is enough?
We find that a large spoonful in the dust bath and a couple of spoonfuls in our coop each week is enough to keep red mites at bay. This is for our flock of 4 birds. If you have more birds you may need to use more DE.
Can you sprinkle diatomaceous earth in a chicken coop?
Yes absolutely, and the great thing about putting it in the coop is that the coop tends to be where the red mites hang out. DE is a great mite treatment. They come out to feed at night. When they emerge from the corners of the coop they walk across the tiny particles of DE powder which causes cracks in the skin of the red mites. These cracks lead to the red mites dehydrating and dying, no longer causing a problem to your hens.
Can you put diatomaceous earth directly on chickens?
Whilst it is possible to sprinkle DE directly onto your chickens I do not think that there would be any point. By incorporating it into the dust bath the chickens will naturally embed the powder deep into their feathers where the mites and external parasites will be hiding out. Sprinkling on the surface of your chickens most of the powder will simply fall off and be useless.
What are the downsides of diatomaceous earth?
The effect of diatomaceous earth has three main downsides:
- Irritation – to the skin, mouth and nose – wear gloves and a dust mask when using it
- Respiratory issues – for humans and chickens
- Cost – it is an additional cost, however it is cheaper and more environmentally friendly to pay for this naturally occurring preventative measure than a more expensive chemical treatment for red mites or other parasites.
For us the great benefits of diatomaceous earth far outweigh the risks, so we use this versatile product for dust bathing and coop maintenance. The most important thing is to observe your flock on a daily basis and keep an eye out for any issues. Then change your practice if issues arise.
How long does it take diatomaceous earth to work?
If a red mite walks across the DE then it will be dead within hours or within a day. However if you have an infestation you cannot assume that all of the mites will come in contact immediately. They are crafty creatures! However it is a very effective treatment. As soon as the red mites are exposed to the sharp edges of the fine powder they will die within hours or a day. So if you are using DE as a treatment then it may take a while to get rid of the infestation and you may need repeated applications of the powder. This is why we use it regularly as a preventative rather than as a treatment.
What happens if you touch diatomaceous earth?
It can cause skin irritation, skin can dry out. The powder is used to dry out the skin of red mites and the same can happen to humans. It doesn’t happen to everyone, but it can. That’s why it’s a good idea to where gloves and use a face mask when working with DE.
Is it OK for chicken dust bath to get wet?
Not really no, our dust bath is made of ash and DE. These are both fine powders that if they got wet would turn into a sludge. Once a sludge the chickens won’t go near it. It’s better to stop the rain from getting in in the first place. So that it can do what it says on the tin – provide dust for the chickens to bathe in!
Conclusion
The good news is that small amounts of diatomaceous earth powder used on a regular basis allows chicken keepers to use a natural material as a great preventative for red mites. As chicken lovers who care greatly about mother earth we use DE as a great way to avoid using chemicals on our smallholding. Let me know in the comments below how you use it and how successful you have been?