The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: langdon on February 18, 2010, 07:37:24 pm

Title: diatom?
Post by: langdon on February 18, 2010, 07:37:24 pm
just arrived today in post.
have applied to my chucks and house.
there was two birds in fact that were affected so they are in the t.l.c. department!
does or has anyone else use this product before.
if so would love to hear your views.
langdon.
p.s. as im on the subject of chucks we noticed eddie our cockerel is getting pecked a little
by one perticular hen. we thought he should man up to this behaviour as he is suppost
the boss in there!.
again has anyone had this before with your chucks, if so again i would love to hear your thoughts ;) :chook:
Title: Re: diatom?
Post by: Wizard on February 19, 2010, 09:37:04 am
Langdon Ever heard of under her thumb ??? :farmer:
Title: Re: diatom?
Post by: doganjo on February 23, 2010, 09:34:27 pm
Ever heard the phrase 'hen pecked' ?  Now you know what it means!  he ISN'T the boss!
Title: Re: diatom?
Post by: marigold on February 24, 2010, 12:23:30 am
I haven't used diatom yet but the breeder i got my croads from swears by it - i'll be interested to hear how it goes. :)
Title: Re: diatom?
Post by: Wizard on February 24, 2010, 08:38:04 am
Annie you can  always tell if he not wearing a hat.Its that bit of bare skin more or less on the top of his head that gives it away :D :D :farmer:
Title: Re: diatom?
Post by: harry on February 24, 2010, 08:49:52 pm
Henpecked no such thing ime the boss in my house when i ask for my tea i expect it. s**t my wifes just come in, must go.
Title: Re: diatom?
Post by: Wizard on February 24, 2010, 08:50:54 pm
I dont care so long as dinner is on time :farmer:
Title: Re: diatom?
Post by: doganjo on February 24, 2010, 08:52:31 pm
Make it yourself then it will be ;D ;D ;D ;D

Back to Diatomaceous Earth - or Fuller's Earth.  I use it regularly in my hen and duck houses.
Title: Re: diatom?
Post by: Wizard on February 24, 2010, 08:56:44 pm
I know a bit about diatomatious earth I used it in swim pool filters Its dead bodies of little sea creatures.Its extremely light and water pumped through it comes out very sparkling NOT sterile though just clean
Title: Re: diatom?
Post by: Red Kite on February 28, 2010, 03:59:21 pm
Make it yourself then it will be ;D ;D ;D ;D

Back to Diatomaceous Earth - or Fuller's Earth.  I use it regularly in my hen and duck houses.

Is that all it is? That would make life cheaper!

I use diatom powder each time I clean out the house and nestbox, I sprinkle it everywhere, especially in the corners and where the sides meet the floor. So far (touches wood), I've not seen any red mites.

Jan
Title: Re: diatom?
Post by: langdon on February 28, 2010, 05:35:30 pm
ta jan allways good to know that others use the same products. :chook:
Title: Re: diatom?
Post by: doganjo on February 28, 2010, 06:20:46 pm
That's what I was told by my friend's husband - a research chemist, but I'm not sure it's exactly the same.  .  Apparently it dries little beasties up by absorbing fluid from them and they die.  But don't quote me.
Wikipedia says this about diatom  -
Quote
Diatomaceous earth (pronounced /ˌdaɪ.ətɵˌmeɪʃəs ˈɜrθ/) also known as diatomite or kieselgur, is a naturally occurring, soft, siliceous sedimentary rock that is easily crumbled into a fine white to off-white powder. It has a particle size ranging from less than 1 micron to more than 1 millimeter, but typically 10 to 200 microns.[1] This powder has an abrasive feel, similar to pumice powder, and is very light, due to its high porosity. The typical chemical composition of oven dried diatomaceous earth is 80 to 90% silica, with 2 to 4% alumina (attributed mostly to clay minerals) and 0.5 to 2% iron oxide.[1]

Diatomaceous earth consists of fossilized remains of diatoms, a type of hard-shelled algae. It is used as a filtration aid, as a mild abrasive, as a mechanical insecticide, as an absorbent for liquids, as cat litter, as an activator in blood clotting studies, and as a component of dynamite. As it is also heat-resistant, it can be used as a thermal insulator.
Quote
and this about fullers - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuller%27s_earth
Title: Re: diatom?
Post by: langdon on February 28, 2010, 07:18:55 pm
dont you find it quite expensive to use it everytime you clean out.
the worst thing about these so needed products is that they are so expensive.
Title: Re: diatom?
Post by: Wizard on February 28, 2010, 07:32:06 pm
Yes Annie isn't that what I wrote in the second Wiki Para but they said it much better than I but that's what it is and I'm not telling you people on here what ratio to mix it with nitro chalk and saltpetre etc; but it can make almighty bang and make the bits fall off ;D :farmer:
Title: Re: diatom?
Post by: doganjo on February 28, 2010, 08:31:18 pm
dont you find it quite expensive to use it everytime you clean out.
the worst thing about these so needed products is that they are so expensive.
I got a huge tub of it online for about £7 and I still have half of it.  I used it in Belle's whelping box too as it's safe. You don't need much of it.
Title: Re: diatom?
Post by: Wizard on March 01, 2010, 08:22:12 am
Hello Annie Just to back you up When I serviced pools I bought diatomacious earth in brown paper sacks They were about a meter tall and 2 foot round and if I could have held them I could carry 2 under each arm They weigh extremely light A bit like the silly question which is heavier a ton of lead or a ton of feathers intit? ;D :farmer: