Diatomaceous earth, the compost bin and allotment

  • 3 Replies
  • 3560 Views
*

meriad

  • Full Member
  • **
  • Location: SURREY
  • 63
My quest for chickens is hopefully going to come true in July...  the run has been ordered; I'm close to ordering the coop and I've been doing loads of research on all sorts of other things.   

On another forum (FB page) someone was asking what people did with their chicken droppings / bedding and nearly all replies said to compost.   However one person said you can't (or rather shouldn't) add the droppings / bedding mix if it has been treated with diatomaceous earth as apparently it can affect the bacteria in the compost bin?

I was wondering what your thoughts were on that, given that (I assume) everyone on this particular board is a gardener and chicken owner ?

Thanks!


*

New shoot

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Location: Reading
  • 18325
Re: Diatomaceous earth, the compost bin and allotment
« Reply #1 on: May 15, 2019, 10:45 »
DE does kill bugs by shredding through the waxy outer layers of insects so they dehydrate and die.  I really don't know if bacteria would be affected or not.

Maybe you could use an open compost bin (no lid) so rain washes through it and then add it to your main compost bin after a few months.

*

meriad

  • Full Member
  • **
  • Location: SURREY
  • 63
Re: Diatomaceous earth, the compost bin and allotment
« Reply #2 on: May 15, 2019, 14:28 »
Thank you; in the hope that the DE won't be needed (ie no mites) I should be fine generally but will defintely do as you suggest if I have DE treated bedding etc.  Good idea!

*

snowdrops

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Location: Burbage,Leics
  • 19511
Re: Diatomaceous earth, the compost bin and allotment
« Reply #3 on: May 15, 2019, 16:33 »
Hmm I hadn’t considered this, but I think the very small quantity of DE that I sprinkle in the nest boxes, that then gets tipped into the droppings tray, that then gets poo picked every day into a bucket that then gets emptied when full in to bay 1 of the compost bin, then gets turned into bay 2 & 3 &4 & 5. I think it’ll be ok.
A woman's place is in her garden.

See my diary pages here
and add a comment here



xx
Diatomaceous Earth

Started by Honeysuckle on The Hen House

6 Replies
2718 Views
Last post May 19, 2011, 11:38
by OpiumEater
xx
Diatomaceous Earth

Started by Kytie on The Hen House

7 Replies
2431 Views
Last post August 26, 2011, 16:20
by Kytie
xx
diatomaceous earth

Started by xxfluffeexx on The Hen House

2 Replies
1575 Views
Last post October 26, 2010, 16:30
by xxfluffeexx
xx
DIATOM / DIATOMACEOUS EARTH

Started by hendreary on The Hen House

6 Replies
3550 Views
Last post May 05, 2010, 13:24
by hillfooter
 

Page created in 0.284 seconds with 40 queries.

Powered by SMFPacks Social Login Mod
Powered by SMFPacks SEO Pro Mod |