| Author | Try This:  Diatomaceous Earth flea and tick killer  |  | 
              
                | medievalcatTrue Blue Farmgirl
 
     256 Posts
 
 Cynthia
 White County 
                Arkansas
 USA
 256 Posts
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                      |  Posted - Oct 19 2010 :  6:11:11 PM   
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                      | I posted this on the barnyard forum.. and thought it might be good here too: We run something of a dog/feral cat rescue out of our home. For the past three years we haven't had any fleas or ticks because I use Diatomaceous Earth on over an acre of land. I also use it in my hen house and barn. It's completely organic and it doesn't harm earthworms. I just put it in a fertilizer spreader and march up and down.
 You can read more about at: http://www.ghorganics.com/DiatomaceousEarth.html
 
 Cynthia
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                | pinkwitchy~farmgirlTrue Blue Farmgirl
 
     230 Posts
 
 Beverly
 Lee's Summit 
                MO
 USA
 230 Posts
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                      |  Posted - Oct 19 2010 :  7:12:22 PM   
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                      | Cynthia, thanks for the info!  Going to check out the site now :) 
 
 Farmgirl Sister 1575* * * It is often the bend in the road that makes life worth the drive * * *
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                | farmmilkmamaTrue Blue Farmgirl
 
      2027 Posts
 
 Amy
 Central MN
 USA
 2027 Posts
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                      |  Posted - Oct 20 2010 :  3:34:42 PM   
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                      | My mom has just started using this a wormer for the cats and dogs. She said there are a billion uses for it, its apparently good for just about everything. Even knows a lady that takes a Tbsp of it in her daily cup of coffee. :) 
 --* FarmMilkMama *--
 
 Farmgirl Sister    #1086
 
 Be yourself.
 Everyone else is already taken.
 -Oscar Wilde
 
 www.farmfoodmama.blogspot.com
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                | medievalcatTrue Blue Farmgirl
 
     256 Posts
 
 Cynthia
 White County 
                Arkansas
 USA
 256 Posts
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                      |  Posted - Oct 20 2010 :  4:34:58 PM   
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                      | Be careful.. from what I've been told there is a food grade Diatomaceous Earth and not food grade. I've read that some zoos are feeding it to some of their animals but I haven't tried it with mine. Anytime we get a new-feral cat in we roll it in the dust and make sure it doesn't get in it's eyes, nose, or mouth.  Also it's not good for humans to breath in the powder..it's very fine and blows in the air easily. 
 Cynthia
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                | WoolgrowerFarmgirl at Heart
 
  3 Posts
 
 
 Missouri
 USA
 3 Posts
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                      |  Posted - Oct 21 2010 :  09:23:30 AM     
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                      | Cynthia, I never thought to use the fertilizer spreader to put it down but thats a great idea.  I'd been using a 5 gallon bucket and just a scoop to sprinkle it around to help cut down on the flies in the shady areas where the sheep lay.  Never could get a decent coverage so the spreader will definitely help.  Thanks! |  
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                | herb19355True Blue Farmgirl
 
     321 Posts
 
 Debi
 Danielsville, 
                GA
 USA
 321 Posts
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                      |  Posted - Oct 21 2010 :  09:33:35 AM     
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                      | Fleas are driving us crazy this year. But can someone tell me how to pronounce it when I call around to try to find out who sells it? thanks! |  
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                | WoolgrowerFarmgirl at Heart
 
  3 Posts
 
 
 Missouri
 USA
 3 Posts
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                      |  Posted - Oct 21 2010 :  10:16:52 AM     
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                      | Lets see if I can type it phonetically... 
 dyatamasheous...does that make sense?  You can also just say DE, most will know what you mean.
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                | medievalcatTrue Blue Farmgirl
 
     256 Posts
 
 Cynthia
 White County 
                Arkansas
 USA
 256 Posts
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                      |  Posted - Oct 22 2010 :  05:47:01 AM   
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                      | I can never say it right either..lol but I think you can kind of say it like: Dye-a-ta-mate-cha The spreader I use is a very old one but it covers the ground pretty well.. it looks like a dusting of snow when we are done.  We reapply it every couple of months or more depending on rain.
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                | CherimeTrue Blue Farmgirl
 
      1222 Posts
 
 Cherime
 Wasilla 
                Alaska
 USA
 1222 Posts
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                      |  Posted - Oct 22 2010 :  08:22:23 AM   
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                      | I do love Alaska. No ticks no fleas no snakes. If you don't have running water or have drained the pipes well just let the house freeze at 20 below and all gone. ;-) 
 CMF
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                | msdoolittleTrue Blue Farmgirl
 
      1152 Posts
 
 Amanda
 East Texas
 USA
 1152 Posts
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                      |  Posted - Oct 23 2010 :  10:47:32 AM   
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                      | Do NOT use the DE sold for pools.  It is treated with soda ash, and breathing it in can result in silicosis.  You can find food-grade DE, too, but I use the stuff in the lawn section.  Just avoid the pool stuff. 
 I believe it is "Die-ah-tah-may-shus", well, that's how I say it, anyway!
 
 Read more here:
 
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diatomaceous_earth
 
 FarmGirl #1390
 www.mylittlecountry.wordpress.com
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                | kelly22Farmgirl in Training
 
   19 Posts
 
 Kelly
 Monmouth 
                Oregon
 USA
 19 Posts
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                      |  Posted - Aug 17 2012 :  3:48:19 PM   
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                      | I use this, but haven't had that great of success with it. Maybe I'm not putting enough down. What would you say the rate is? 
 ~Kelly...raising 4 free range sons on our 65 acre sustainable farm
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                | Bear5True Blue Farmgirl
 
      13055 Posts
 
 
 Louisiana/Texas
 USA
 13055 Posts
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                      |  Posted - Aug 17 2012 :  4:09:45 PM   
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                      | Thanks for the information. I'll check the site out.  Sounds good. Marly
 
 "It's only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on earth- and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up- that we will begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it was the only one we had." Elisabeth Kurler-Ross
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                | Lorie.VanceTrue Blue Farmgirl
 
     200 Posts
 
 Lorie
 Tampa 
                FL
 200 Posts
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                      |  Posted - Aug 17 2012 :  6:35:44 PM   
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                      | I found that I have to us food grade DE in and around my coop and run. Last month my husband bought non food grade that was supposed to used in the yard mot 100% pure and I had a horrible reaction to it. My eye lids turned hot pink with irritation and peeled and flaked like a sunburn. My eyes felt like I had fiberglass in them. I coulnt wear contacts until this week and have had to make several trips to the eye doctor. Please be cautious when using non food grade DE. 
 Lorie
 
 http://thevintagegardengirl@blogspot.com
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                | alterationsbyemilyTrue Blue Farmgirl
 
      697 Posts
 
  Emily
 Chambersburg 
                PA
 USA
 697 Posts
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                |  | Try This:  Diatomaceous Earth flea and tick killer  |  |