Month: February 2016

Diatomaceous Earth (DE) is a powder made from fossilized diatoms found in old fresh water lake areas. DE has many uses, and can be an important part of backyard chicken care. Read on to find out how your chickens can benefit from DE, as long as it is used properly.

Food-grade DE can be sprinkled around the coop, run, and dust bathing area as a deodorizer and to keep insects away from your chickens. DE is a natural desiccant, drying out certain types of insects without harmful chemicals. DE can also be applied directly to lice or mite-infested chickens, beneath their wings and around the vent.

Always use a mask while spreading DE. While it contains no harmful chemicals, the dust can irritate the throat and lungs. Keep your chickens out of the area until the dust settles.

In her book, Fresh Eggs Daily (St. Lynn’s Press, 2013), Lisa Steele explains the differences of opinion surrounding using DE with chickens. “Some experts advise not using DE in dust bath areas because of the possible risks, but I feel that any yet-unproven possible risk is far outweighed by the very real chance if your chickens contracting mites and then possibly having to be treated with Sevin dust or another equally harmful carcinogen or commercial preparation – which I DO NOT recommend.” says Steele. She further advises that mixing DE with wood ash can lessen inhalation of DE by chickens.

Melissa Caughey, of the blog Tilly’s Nest, recommends the following when using DE with backyard chickens:

1. Wear a mask when using FGDE.
2. Let the cloud of FGDE dissipate prior to working in that area.
3. Ventilate the coop well when applying and using FGDE.
4. Most chickens live out their natural lives prior to developing Silicosis.
5. Avoid using FGDE if you have a pre-existing lung condition.
6. On an aside note, Silicosis can also be caused from the use of sand (silica dust) in the coop and run. So please take the above precautions for yourself when you are working with sand as well.

More information on DE for chickens:
‘Diatomaceous Earth’ from UrbanChickens.org?

‘Diatomaceous Earth in Backyard Chicken Keeping’ by Melissa Caughey of Tilly’s Nest

‘All About Diatomaceous Earth in your Coop, Garden and Home’ by Lisa Steele of Fresh Eggs Daily

Thanks to all of our new subscribers for coming aboard! We have some great chicken products coming to you in March. Along with 6 other items, our March subscribers will receive a handmade (in the USA) ceramic hen pendant. Wear it on a necklace, key chain, from your rear-view mirror – anywhere you need to be reminded of your lovely ladies! You’ll also get a pack of Chicken Ecstasy Treats from Exotic Nutrition Pet Company. We can’t wait to hear how your chickens react to this one!

In addition, three lucky March subscribers will find a surprise hen keychain in their box. If you find one, a 30 POUND bag of Koop Clean bedding with Sweet PDZ by Lucerne Farms is on its way to you. Good luck!

If you didn’t get in on our March box before we sold out, we still have openings for our April box, shipping April 1. And there are a few items in our Shop too, which ship the business day following your order (unlike our subscription products, which ship the first of each month). Check us out at our website, and on facebook and instagram for more news from Henny & Roo!

We had so much fun putting together our February boxes. And the vendors featured in this box were so excited to be part of it, and amazing to work with. Our February subscribers found in their boxes:

• Chubby Mealworms
• Grit Magazine
• Lavender Lip Balm by Duck Feather Herbs
• Brooder Bottle Cap by The Chicken Fountain
• DooKashi Coop Deodorizer
• Cute chicken socks
• Bandage scissors for the first-aid kit
• Self-adhesive bandages

We hope you loved our 2nd box! Our March box ships 3/1, and you are not going to want to miss it. We will have some sneak-peeks for you later this week – but there are only 9 boxes left! Order now and use coupon code SPRING to save 10%!