diatomaceous earth

[VirginVegGrower]

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?

Nope but in puffing it once I got it down my throat. Do not recommend...for that reason I would not give it my chooks.

[kathyd]

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

Ah, Sudocrem - OK will pick some up then, thanks . I used a Scaley leg spray and vaseline last time, plus a bottle of spray-on almond oil from the baby counter here which seemed quite soothing. But I'm having problems knowing if it's worked or not. I 'think' they're all OK now, but the dodgy 'special needs' bird's legs still look awful - although this could just reflect her general state of health which is deteriorating quite quickly at the moment . And one of the others seemed to have a swollen scale on her ankle which was really bothering her, and I wondered if she was still affected, but it seems to have gone now... but I want to be prepared for next time.

[petal]

like I said - pure benzyl benzoate (in horse products for sweet itch) is the only thing that has really worked for us-permanently...we shall see... but bear in mind we take our birds to shows- so are overly meticulous about killing nasty creepies!
as for the diatom earth as a wormer - we have a really good poultry vet now and she explained exactly why it wouldn't work - stomach juices and all that. Flubenvet is best - some people give grated carrots once inbetween worming as that clears them out.

[VirginVegGrower]

Hah that definitely wouldn't work with my chooks as they spat out all the carrots and I cooked them especially for them
Where do you buy BB? Equine store or chemist?

[kathyd]

like I said - pure benzyl benzoate (in horse products for sweet itch) is the only thing that has really worked for us-permanently...we shall see... but bear in mind we take our birds to shows- so are overly meticulous about killing nasty creepies!
as for the diatom earth as a wormer - we have a really good poultry vet now and she explained exactly why it wouldn't work - stomach juices and all that. Flubenvet is best - some people give grated carrots once inbetween worming as that clears them out.

So do you just rub it on their legs petal? You don't need to submerge them for 3 minutes per leg like surgical spirit?

[kathyd]

Hah that definitely wouldn't work with my chooks as they spat out all the carrots and I cooked them especially for them
Where do you buy BB? Equine store or chemist?

Mine won't eat carrot either VVG, unhealthy little beggars.

[kathyd]

Rofl! I've been conned!! The website where I found my big bargain bag of earth turned out to be in America, and they want to charge me £144.02 to ship it across! Weird really, because all the prices defaulted to £, so I assumed they were based in the UK. Will teach me to check more carefully next time!

[VirginVegGrower]

Rofl! I've been conned!! The website where I found my big bargain bag of earth turned out to be in America, and they want to charge me £144.02 to ship it across! Weird really, because all the prices defaulted to £, so I assumed they were based in the UK. Will teach me to check more carefully next time!

Yowch. Seriously would look at CWG or similar and Diatom tubs. You shouldn't get through more than a couple in a year, should you?

[kathyd]

Yowch. Seriously would look at CWG or similar and Diatom tubs. You shouldn't get through more than a couple in a year, should you?

What's CWG? When I search on google I get Clean Water Group and Common Wealth Games .

[VirginVegGrower]

What's CWG? When I search on google I get Clean Water Group and Common Wealth Games .

It's CWG farming supplies now part of Mole Valley stores. They are excellent and stock pretty much everything you need for chooks. The other place I use is Omlet but they are in Oxfordshire, which you may not be near. Mole/CWG should have somewhere close to where you end up.

http://www.molevalleyfarmers.com/mvf...&site=Products

[kathyd]

Thanks VVG I'll add them to my Favourites . In the meantime I've just bought a big 25kg sack on ebay for £26 something, which sounded quite good to me - and postage only £7.95, marginally cheaper than £144!

[VirginVegGrower]

Indeed, I'm thinking I will go into a different chemists and ask for BB tomorrow. I daren't go into my village one and ask for it as I've already placed orders for citric acid, bleach, surgical spirit (large quantity) and now this. Swear they will call the authorities if they see my compost in the boot of the car. The pharmacist in there gives me funny looks each time of asking. Bl**dy hen health is a nightmare.

[petal]

hyperdrug online sells benzyl benzoate. its painted on gloopily and is incredible! I gave up on surgical spirit after a cockerel kicked and flicked some in my eye.
e bay sells diatom (we got big tub of smite diatom powder - it lasts forever!)

[VirginVegGrower]

hyperdrug online sells benzyl benzoate. its painted on gloopily and is incredible! I gave up on surgical spirit after a cockerel kicked and flicked some in my eye.
e bay sells diatom (we got big tub of smite diatom powder - it lasts forever!)

Thanks Petal but apparently Mr VVG has ordered some through a family pharmacist - he knows no shame

[Glutton4...]

I have a big tub of Diatom, very red in colour, so easy to see in my Chook house. I have an old washing-up liquid bottle, that I fill with it, and use that as a 'puffer' to get in the corners. Very fiddly to fill, but effective.