Re: [Blackbelly] DE and fencing
Mary: I have ordered 50# bags of food grade DE from Shadow Ridge Donkeys (http://www.shadowridgedonkeys.com/perma_food_grade.htm). Did you ever figure what happened to your lambs? Sandy: Used the absolute best field fence you can afford for your perimeter and make sure it is properly installed (primarily adequate corner post/anchoring). My preference was the Kencove SolidLock 48 (at about $1.00 per foot). Properly installed it is worth the money. I don't use any other barbed or electrified wiring and have yet to have any problems with unwanted quests - knock on wood. I had a huge pine tree about 40' tall fall across it and all I had to do was to cut the tree and the fence stood back up by itself. I expect it to outlast me. I'm already having to replace the cheaper (Red Brand) field fence I used for one portion of internal cross-fencing - guess what I'm replacing it with? John Carlton Double J Farms ___ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
[Blackbelly] DE
My apologies for using an acryonym without the explanation. Diatameceous earth is (DE) is fossil flour that comes from Utah. It is tiny ancient fossils ground into a flour consistancy. When fed to poultry, dogs, cats, horeses and sheep it literally cuts up the internal parasites. It is also good for human consumption as well. BE SURE however that you buy food grade DE. There is also DE for swimming pools which is not for consumption by any animal. I mist their grain with 50/50 apple cider vineger and water (another natural wormer). This allows the DE and granulated garlic to cling to the feed and cut the flour dust down when they eat it. I also mix it in their kelp along with granulated garlic. The lamb I had to destroy had intestinal worms but I don't recall the name of the worm. This is the worst case of internal parasites I've had. Normally if someone gets wormy which does not happen very often, I will give them a garlic drench first for a couple days. If that does not work, then I give the SafeGuard at a rate twice noted for goats. Most times the garlic does the trick. I rarely have to use the SafeGuard. So this guy was must have had a really poor immune system. I tried for 3 months to save him, to no avail. Oh, I also put DE in the holes where the poultry do their dust baths to help keep off the mites and lice on the birds. Cathy Mayton LeapNLambs ___ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
Re: [Blackbelly] DE
no need to apologize. I'm not sure why I have none of these issues here in MD, but I have just not been exposed to any of these things at all. I feel very fortunate to not have any of these problems. But I am very interested in learning about the issues other people have had and are having. Thanks for explaining. Nancy L. Johnson imgr8a...@comcast.net cell: 301 440 4808 - Original Message - From: Crystal Wolf crystalw...@windstream.net To: Blackbelly digest blackbelly@lists.blackbellysheep.info Sent: Tuesday, October 18, 2011 7:30:35 PM Subject: [Blackbelly] DE My apologies for using an acryonym without the explanation. Diatameceous earth is (DE) is fossil flour that comes from Utah. It is tiny ancient fossils ground into a flour consistancy. When fed to poultry, dogs, cats, horeses and sheep it literally cuts up the internal parasites. It is also good for human consumption as well. BE SURE however that you buy food grade DE. There is also DE for swimming pools which is not for consumption by any animal. I mist their grain with 50/50 apple cider vineger and water (another natural wormer). This allows the DE and granulated garlic to cling to the feed and cut the flour dust down when they eat it. I also mix it in their kelp along with granulated garlic. The lamb I had to destroy had intestinal worms but I don't recall the name of the worm. This is the worst case of internal parasites I've had. Normally if someone gets wormy which does not happen very often, I will give them a garlic drench first for a couple days. If that does not work, then I give the SafeGuard at a rate twice noted for goats. Most times the garlic does the trick. I rarely have to use the SafeGuard. So this guy was must have had a really poor immune system. I tried for 3 months to save him, to no avail. Oh, I also put DE in the holes where the poultry do their dust baths to help keep off the mites and lice on the birds. Cathy Mayton LeapNLambs ___ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info ___ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
Re: [Blackbelly] DE dust
John, I mix soaked sugar beet pellets with any of my grain feeds for horses and sheep. It accomplishes the same thing as the oil. I hate to waste money on minerals that they blow out of the feed bowl. Dampening with water will work, too. Beth in Central OR Sierra Luna Blackbellies ___ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
Re: [Blackbelly] DE dust
Any ideas on how to reduce the dust from DE added to dry grain feed? John Carlton Double J Farms ___ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
Re: [Blackbelly] DE dust
John, I mix up some of my own minerals and they have a bad tendency to separate. I added just a few drops of mineral oil and mixed very well. Works a treat. I've seen mineral oil listed on livestock minerals. I think that would work. Regards, Barb - Original Message - From: Double J Farms [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: blackbelly@lists.blackbellysheep.info Sent: Thursday, January 31, 2008 4:48 PM Subject: Re: [Blackbelly] DE dust Any ideas on how to reduce the dust from DE added to dry grain feed? John Carlton Double J Farms ___ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info ___ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
Re: [Blackbelly] DE dust
Hi John and Barb, I add DE to my sheeps grain but I have a mist bottle with water in it. I mist the grain and stir it up making sure most of the grain is slightly wetted, then add the DE and the DE sticks nicely to the grain and there is no dust. Cathy LeapN' Lambs On Jan 31, 2008 4:48 PM, Double J Farms [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Any ideas on how to reduce the dust from DE added to dry grain feed? John Carlton Double J Farms ___ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info -- Cathy Mayton ___ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
Re: [Blackbelly] DE
I really don't know if DE works when diluted with water..thats a good question. It looks like fine flour and if you smell it it really doesn't smell like anything. It doesn't taste bitter either. If you do feed cob or pellets just sprinkle some in and the sheep will most likely eat it. You can't OD this stuff which makes it a good choice to use when you need to. The way I understand it DE kills the parasites mechanically not chemically. Just dries them from the inside out. The best part is there is no risk of bug resistance to this stuff, according to people who study parasites and drug resistance. ___ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
Re: [Blackbelly] DE
I have to wonder if you really can't OD sheep on DE (still smarting from my surprise lesson about clay!!) Lot of silica in DE, no? Talking to the guy at the lab where I send my forage samples...he told me that he was testing some Central Oregon hay that was suspected of killing some alpacas...it had something like a 20% ash content - silica - from the volcanic ash that passes for soil in C. Oregon. They figured the heavy silica content in the hay killed the alpacas. That could really be an excess though...some of the alfalfa we get from C. Oregon is loaded with dirt...not just from haying practices but also from irrigation water that splashes dirt onto the plants. When I check fecals on the rams, will start to reduce the amount (or increase it) until I can get a good result with minimal DE. Then I'll let everyone know what I find out. I am starting with 1/4 teaspoon each dusted onto their grain. The last time I checked a fecal on them, they were running about 500 epg. If it goes below 300 (weather may play a part though) I'll consider that a great result. Especially if I see a lot of scratched up little larvae. Barb L. - Original Message - From: Dayna Denmark [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: blackbelly@lists.blackbellysheep.info Sent: Monday, October 29, 2007 6:06 PM Subject: Re: [Blackbelly] DE I really don't know if DE works when diluted with water..thats a good question. It looks like fine flour and if you smell it it really doesn't smell like anything. It doesn't taste bitter either. If you do feed cob or pellets just sprinkle some in and the sheep will most likely eat it. You can't OD this stuff which makes it a good choice to use when you need to. The way I understand it DE kills the parasites mechanically not chemically. Just dries them from the inside out. The best part is there is no risk of bug resistance to this stuff, according to people who study parasites and drug resistance. ___ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info ___ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
Re: [Blackbelly] DE
Barb, The only thing I know of about silica that makes it unsafe is if it is a reaction to the dust in the lungs. Silica ingested orally passes unchanged thru the gastrointestinal tract exiting in the feces leaving no trace behind. DE is too minute to penetrate the mucus that lines organs or penetrate the skin. There is no chemical toxicity. ___ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
Re: [Blackbelly] DE
Thanks for the info - Is the food grade like the kind they use in pools - very powdery and dry? How do you get them to eat that? My sheep won't eat a piece of corn that touches the ground or has a speck of dirt near it in the feeder - not sure how I'd get them to eat that. I wonder if putting it in water and drenching them with it would work as well (I'll check online for the holistic wormers, maybe that would tell me). Onalee ___ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
[blackbelly] DE
Hi all, We bought the natural/food grade (not for pool filters, yes it is treated and does not serve our purpose) DE at a feed store in Weatherford, TX (Dillard's) for $18.00 for a 50# bag. We are mixing it in the sheep feed (the chickens eat it, too), goat feed and dog food. Just started using it regularly last week, I guess we'll see how well it works soon. The bag also says it is good for naturally getting rid of crickets, roaches, grasshoppers and a slew of other pests as long as it is applied per the instructions. We are also putting it in/on our gardens to rid them of damaging pests. Elaine ___ This message is from the blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
Re: [blackbelly] DE
At 04:59 PM 6/22/2006, you wrote: Julian, can you quote your source? How could DE cut up internal worms and maggots, and not earthworms or dung beetle larvae? I am not challenging you, I'd just like to read it from the source. Thanks, Barb Well, as I said, it's anecdotal on the dung beetles. Unfortunately, it was a friend of the rancher who posted, and not the rancher himself. However, there was a report there about a rancher who feeds DE regularly, and still has tons of dung beetles. I think having chickens is probably more detrimental to dung beetle populations... As for earthworms: http://www.dirtdoctor.com/view_org_research.php?id=41 http://www.ghorganics.com/DiatomaceousEarth.html http://www.freshwaterde.com/ http://www.shagbarkridge.com/info/de.html Worm farmers(ranchers?) apparently use it to treat their worm beds for fungus gnat larvae, parasites, etc. You can find more at: http://www.google.com/search?q=diatomaceous+earthworms Julian ___ This message is from the blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
Re: [blackbelly] DE
At 06:40 PM 6/22/2006, you wrote: I don't know if it's true or not, but many sites say the DE you buy for the pool filters doesn't work the same as the 'nursery' or food grade DE. It may just be hype from the people that want you to buy the expensive DE, I don't know. Yes, you don't want the filter grade, you want food grade. The filter stuff has been treated, and is no good for our purposes. Julian ___ This message is from the blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
Re: [blackbelly] DE
Julian, can you quote your source? How could DE cut up internal worms and maggots, and not earthworms or dung beetle larvae? I am not challenging you, I'd just like to read it from the source. Thanks, Barb - Original Message - From: Julian Hale [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: blackbelly@lists.blackbellysheep.info Sent: Thursday, June 22, 2006 3:01 PM Subject: Re: [blackbelly] DE At 07:27 PM 6/21/2006, you wrote: I think it would probably mean death to earthworms and dung beetles too. Maybe fly predators would be a solution worth considering. Barb Fly predators are $$$. DE is not harmful to earthworms, and I've found anecdotal evidence that it is not harmful to dung beetles, either. I've *got* to order some... http://www.dirtdoctor.com/forum/archive.php/o_t/t_2495/who-has-dung-beetles-on-his-her-property.html Julian ___ This message is from the blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info ___ This message is from the blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
Re: [blackbelly] DE
I don't know if it's true or not, but many sites say the DE you buy for the pool filters doesn't work the same as the 'nursery' or food grade DE. It may just be hype from the people that want you to buy the expensive DE, I don't know. I have also read somewhere that DE does not hurt Earthworms as they have the ability to digest it - again, don't know if this is just hype or truth. Onalee -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Cecil Bearden Sent: Thursday, June 22, 2006 6:59 PM To: blackbelly@lists.blackbellysheep.info Subject: Re: [blackbelly] DE As I recall DE is used in swimming pool filters. I bought some 10 years ago to put around the house to kill the crickets. I think it was about $3 a bag back then.. Probably still have some sitting around in storage somewhere. It is an ingredient in flea powder... Cecil in OKla - Original Message - From: Julian Hale [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: blackbelly@lists.blackbellysheep.info Sent: Thursday, June 22, 2006 5:01 PM Subject: Re: [blackbelly] DE At 07:27 PM 6/21/2006, you wrote: I think it would probably mean death to earthworms and dung beetles too. Maybe fly predators would be a solution worth considering. Barb Fly predators are $$$. DE is not harmful to earthworms, and I've found anecdotal evidence that it is not harmful to dung beetles, either. I've *got* to order some... http://www.dirtdoctor.com/forum/archive.php/o_t/t_2495/who-has-dung-beetles- on-his-her-property.html Julian ___ This message is from the blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info ___ This message is from the blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info ___ This message is from the blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
Re: [blackbelly] DE
I think it would probably mean death to earthworms and dung beetles too. Maybe fly predators would be a solution worth considering. Barb ___ This message is from the blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
Re: [blackbelly] DE
Chris, Where can you purchase this DE? Sounds like something that we would be interested in using. Sounds like it is safe and easy to mix with the feed. Will it work with calves also? Sue Miller ___ This message is from the blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
