diatomaceous earth

[kathyd]

So... does diatomaceous earth deal with both lice and red mites, or would I still need to buy additional products for them please? I want to stock up in the UK when I'm over!

Thx
PS Happy New Year!

[VirginVegGrower]

Hi KathyD. It's a powder that sorts out both yes, but you need to still treat your house with something like Smite or Poultry Shield. Then puff DE into corners of house and edges of roosting bars. Do you think you have an infestation?
We have just bought a huge tub from CWG so check them out. They also sell Virkon S, Barrier Red Mite spray and Barrier disenfectants. You need a puffer bottle which you then keep and fill up using your big tub. Puffer is about £6 and big tub for circa £20. CWG or Mole tend to be spread in various places over the UK. If you're coming anywhere near Oxfordshire, go to Omlet and buy the lot in one go. They allow you to pick up from HQ.

[kathyd]

Hi VVG - one of the birds has lice I think (she always seems to have them, whatever I do for her), but I don't think we have mites.. touch wood (hate tempting fate by putting it in writing). I do have stuff to squirt and paint the house with, just waiting for a spell of mild dry weather!! I just thought it might be easier and more cost effective to buy a big 50lb sack of earth for £22.50 than lots of small 500g pots of louse powder for 12 or 15 euros each from the vet! I can't afford to scatter the vet stuff in dust baths and things, but can be more generous with the earth. Apparently you can mix it with their feed too to help with worms?

[VirginVegGrower]

You can although I don't. I buy Flubenvet which is supposed to be the best wormer for chooks. You can buy it ready mixed in Marriages feed, which might be worth looking at. There's DE and then there's the ground brown stuff. I tend to use the white Diatom in big tubs. I don't know what the large scale keepers use. I put some in the Aubiose nestbox and then I put in on the girls. With having an Eglu I don't puff it in there. I just scrub that out and use a shield spray. The girls dust bath in the garden soil or use the wood ashes from the bonfire heap.

[kathyd]

I use flubenvet too VVG, so no probs there. Don't think I can get marriages feed over here. I don't know if the DE I'm looking at is white or brown - DIATOMACEOUS EARTH 50LB - DiscountedPetProducts.Net - it doesn't say, unless I'm missing something somewhere... this seems to be cheaper than Diatom though, possibly because you're not paying for a brand name (or possibly because it's lower quality of course!).

[VirginVegGrower]

Only one way to find out and that's to try it. I'd buy a puffer too though as its much easier to apply to cracks etc. with one. I thought if you were coming over that you might want to stock up in your wormer options

[kathyd]

Actually that's a very good idea, I've added it to my list! I have a bit left, but I need to dose them again any time now, so that'll probably use it all up. So thanks!

[VirginVegGrower]

What about Citricidal in case of snuffles. Apple Cider Vinegar? Scaley Leg Spray or Sudocrem? Vaseline? Violet wound spray?

[kathyd]

I think I've got most of those VVG - what I do need is surgical spirit, but I'm not sure where to buy it from. A pharmacy I guess?

[VirginVegGrower]

Nooooo unless you want to pay over the odds for a small bottle. You need a country store that sells equine/farm supplies. Which bit of the UK are you heading to and I will google some out for you? PM me if you want to keep it under the radar.

[chris]

Something I found out the other day, which may interest people - you can put DE in the feed as a general tonic (or somthing or other) too. Haven't done it yet, do any of you folks?

[petal]

is the surgical spirit for scaly leg? - if so- try to get benzyl benzoate whilst here- it knocked a scaly leg outbreak completely on the head this time last year- incredible stuff- hyperdrug sell it on line.
we get a giant tub of smite diatom off e bay and also creocote houses annually to reduce red mite. For northern mite- look out for johnsons anti mite spray- £2.99 - meant for canaries but is very good for nasties!

[VirginVegGrower]

As above Benzyl Benzoate is also in Sudocrem, which we used on Ellie. It works.

[kathyd]

Well I'm headed for Leeds, and I'll only have 2 days there including one for 'xmas dinner' with the kids, lol . The other is for shopping, but we have a huge list and I won't have time to go very far to be honest... I've already checked out Bardsey Mills online, which sells equine products, but doesn't seem to list surgical spirit. Might sell it in their shop I guess, but it's in the opposite direction from where I'll be so I'll not make it there. I could ok for online suppliers and see if the postage costs make it silly I guess. You're being very sweet and helpful by the way, thank you xx

[kathyd]

Something I found out the other day, which may interest people - you can put DE in the feed as a general tonic (or somthing or other) too. Haven't done it yet, do any of you folks?

I read it helps control worms Chris, which would be useful if true!