DE as a wormer

[SandyM]

That's it eh? Hmmmm very interesting. Thanks!

[Arbor]

Generally in the past I wormed with safeguard or ivermectin in spring and fall (one wormer in fall, one in spring). When I picked up the de, the guy suggested it as an ongoing treatment. Since I bought the red lake earth (the cheaper brand), I'm not really opposed to making it a regular part of their feed mix.

[Gizmo]

I haven't done DE in my food I think I may try it. I also read someone adding it to the water. What are your thoughts about that?

[ross]

In water only dilutes & softens . DE stands for diatimacious earth which is ground up in very fine minut pieces of shell fish which has sharp edges that cut & work their way inside parasites/worms and kill but it doesn't bother the inside of critters .
I'm talking straight DE don't know anything bout the DE mixes , Red Lake is it ?

[Home Grown Poultry]

apple cider vinegar in water, a teaspoon/gallon i believe, I use Braggs and use the lid to measure it. I dont offer it all the time just when I think something may be going on. as for DE Iv never put it in the feed but provide it as a dust bath. But putting it on the feed as Ross describes will guarantee that they do in fact consume it. DE draws in all moisture so mixing it with water will negate its effects.

[BobG]

Hmmm, I am going to play the Devils Advocate here folks. Just how many of you using DE have done a fecal float to see if you actually are worm free ? Do not give me the answer I don't see any so I must be free of them .!

[Jaye]

DE: Earth is composed of the fossilized exoskeletons of tiny single-celled, micro-organisms called diatoms. When these organisms died, their skeletal remains settled to the bottom of large bodies of water and became fossilized. It is the fossilized exoskeletons of these diatoms that create diatomaceous earth.
So this has been bothering me for awhile. I hear a lot of people extolling the virtues of adding DE to feed as a wormer, but have also read in many different articles that Diatomaceous earth is rendered inert when you add liquid - no more sharp edges to kill off parasites (which is why, for example, you have to keep replenishing in dust baths after a rain). That's why I really don't see how it can be effective if added to feed, since it will be mixed in with water or whatever other liquid during its trip through the digestive tract. If someone knows why it is still effective when added to feed, please enlighten me, because I really don't get how it can work when added to feed.

[ross]

Let's put it this way if I had worms in my critters over the many years I've used it they would be unthrifty & poor doers . Odd times I've seen dead worms in crap soon after worming & never checked bird stools but every spring I have dogs checked & the 50 plus yes l had horses a stool sample was taken twice a year to vet , no worms . Not sure if answers your ? Bob but how I see it . If it didn't work I feel there would be signs . I have used regular horse , dog & poultry wormers time to time but prefer natural if I can .Not trying to sell/convince anyone to use or not just replying to ?s & as I've heard , the proof is in the pudding . To each his own , works for me & thats what it's about .

[BobG]

Good Post Jaye . I would also like to add that some of best racing pigeon lofts no longer feed DE to their birds as it did not work . I quit using DE in the 90 s when I did a fecal float at my local vets office .

[BobG]

Ross It is ones personal choice and it is one of those topics that we will have to agree to disagree my friend