DE = Diatomaceous Earth

I just started to use this in my coop and on my dogs and in their bedding. There is so many uses for this and is safe, non toxic. If you do a search on it, make sure you look for "food grade" and not the kind for swimming pools.
It kills all sorts of insects, including fleas and is also a natural dewormer.
A little bit goes a long way.
Anyone else use it?

Yes, have used it. It is good but I can't seem to spread it without breathing it. I was never sure that I should be using it where the dogs might decide to dig (and therefore breath it). I did buy a very large bag and spread it around the outside of the dog yards. We live out in the country and our whole place is not fenced for chihuahuas so I used it freely in areas where the dogs would not run loose. I did the nematode thing once also but the best thing that I have found is plain old table salt. Salt will not be safe for dogs to walk on so it must be wet down very, very well and let dry before dogs are allowed on it (disolved very well). It will BURN your grass and it takes a couple of good rains for the grass to green back up but it lasts a long time (years). We do not have fleas anymore (they used to be a very big problem here). You can't get the salt on or around the flowers however we have Rose-of-Sharon around the dog yards and they did not seem to be hurt but we did not put the salt near them either. We did not get the salt near our neighbor's fence either. I liked the growth regulater insecticide that we used to get but it is probably not available anymore (I can't find it anyway). I'm sorry about the ramble but fleas are something that really bother me. We used to wage war against them none stop.
charly

Sevens Dust!!!!

Put this directly on chickens, in the coop on the ground, in the dogs bed on your plants. Great stuff and totally safe!

I recently got the grandular and put that in our yard because of grubs, now we have no grubs and lots of grass growing were it hasn't grown in 3 years.

Just saying!

Seven dust is Carbiril (sp?) and that is NOT totally safe! if you use it BE SURE to use ONLY the 5% stuff.

DE is supposed to be great stuff. I've not used it, havent had a need. Inhalation would be a factor to seriously consider, though, as Charly mentioned.

Seven Dust is poison and outdated, IMO. And you have the inhalation factor with it, too. Yikes.

MsB

It's the stinking ants that drive me crazy!!!

With the Persians I don't / won't dare spray inside the house. I have sprayed all perimeters on the outside several times and they just keep coming! It doesn't help that they have bowls of cat food to feed on. I can't tell you how furious it makes me to throw out bowls of $4.40 per lb. food because of the stinking ants!!

Does Boric Acid Powder work? Any suggestions, besides this DE? However, I'd love to know more about this.........Anyone with a link handy?

Hu, do a search for the DE, all spelled out and for food grade. There is tons of websites with info. The one I have on hand in my bookmarks I don't recommend buying from them so I won't list it. I ordered from them and didn't receive it for over a month. When I emailed asking what was the hold up their answer was they didn't have enough staff and too many orders. Didn't know where my DE was but would make it here eventually.
As far as the ants my MIL is trying to DE at her house for ants. She has tried so many things and she hates the one thing that works because of the poison and her having a dog. So she is being my guinea pig in trying this stuff out.
I will say that we went out to the garage last night and there was a streamline of ants going in. I grabbed some DE and sprinkled it around where the ants were and today there was no sign of an ant. Not sure if it worked for sure, but seems to.
As far as inhaling it. It is definitely a factor to consider. Funny you can eat it yourself but not suppose to inhale it. I took a sour cream container and poked little holes in the bottom with a nail. I put the DE in and kind of lightly tapped it to sprinkle it. They recommend a puffer to do it, but I think a puffer would get more dust then what I did.
FYI, it is said that flour companies use DE in and around their flour bins to keep bugs out. Since it is safe to eat, it is approved for their use.
Also, it is FDA approved and USDA approved.

quote:

Originally posted by Hu-Dare:
It's the stinking ants that drive me crazy!!!

With the Persians I don't / won't dare spray inside the house. I have sprayed all perimeters on the outside several times and they just keep coming! It doesn't help that they have bowls of cat food to feed on. I can't tell you how furious it makes me to throw out bowls of $4.40 per lb. food because of the stinking ants!!

Does Boric Acid Powder work? Any suggestions, besides this DE? However, I'd love to know more about this.........Anyone with a link handy?

Boric Acid is very harmful to dogs and I would think it was just as bad for cats/kitties. I have had some luck with spraying vinegar around but I don't know if it would hurt cats (my dogs sneeze and run outside when I do this). We don't have a cat anymore due to neighbor's bad dogs that will kill a cat if they can get close enough :-( Some of my fear (and info) comes from working in a garden section of a hardeware store (I wouldn't use a lot of the stuff on the market especially some things pushed by large companies). I have not tried it but a friend tells me that fresh ground cinnamin will make ants leave the building. I tried the pre-ground kind from the grocery store and it made the kennel smell nice but the ants did not leave ! Cleaning it all up was not easy ! And many years ago my oldest son worked for a nationally recognized pest control company and most of the "stuff" they use is not something that I want around family or pets.
charly

I have had a problem with ants getting into the dogs food containers in the garage. These are supposed to be sealed containers but, I guess not. I put the bags inside the plastic containers and cut the tops off the bags. What I have done when the ants got in was sprinkle 7-Dust inside the container around the outside of the bag and on top and around the containers. Closed the containers back up and low and behold, the ants come out completely within a couple of hours. This has saved me from throwing out almost full bags of $50 kibble.

The problem I am having now is the freaking fleas. I have never had them until the last couple of years. I used to use Frontline but I think the fleas are immune it now so it doesn't work. I'm worried about putting anything out in the yard for fear of the dogs getting into it. I would really like to use something safe for the dogs and the neighbors roaming cats.

A natural remedy for those of you who might be interested is garlic.
Steep 4 heads in water for 12 to 24 hours and then spray on your yard.
It works wonderful for flea prevention as well as ants, spiders and mosquitoes.
Another thing you an use to prevent any critters from getting into your house is to save coffee grounds and run them along your foundation.

E.T.A
You can also put garlic powder in your dogs or cats food and it to will prevent fleas. Just put a light dusting on and mix it up.

Oh yes, garlic works too. I know someone that when she is going camping she will eat garlic for a couple days before and then she doesn't get bit by mosquitoes when camping. But I think no one ever wants to go camping with her either. lol

quote:

Originally posted by Sheltieluvr:
Oh yes, garlic works too. I know someone that when she is going camping she will eat garlic for a couple days before and then she doesn't get bit by mosquitoes when camping. But I think no one ever wants to go camping with her either. lol

Or by vampires either I'll bet???

quote:

Originally posted by indigurl:
A natural remedy for those of you who might be interested is garlic.
Steep 4 heads in water for 12 to 24 hours and then spray on your yard.
It works wonderful for flea prevention as well as ants, spiders and mosquitoes.
Another thing you an use to prevent any critters from getting into your house is to save coffee grounds and run them along your foundation.

E.T.A
You can also put garlic powder in your dogs or cats food and it to will prevent fleas. Just put a light dusting on and mix it up.

4 HEADS? So what if I have more than 4 heads I'd like to boil? Can I???

quote:

Originally posted by CJK:

quote:

Originally posted by Sheltieluvr:
Oh yes, garlic works too. I know someone that when she is going camping she will eat garlic for a couple days before and then she doesn't get bit by mosquitoes when camping. But I think no one ever wants to go camping with her either. lol

Or by vampires either I'll bet???

You know, she has never been bit by a vampire. It must work. lol

quote:

Originally posted by CJK:

quote:

Originally posted by indigurl:
A natural remedy for those of you who might be interested is garlic.
Steep 4 heads in water for 12 to 24 hours and then spray on your yard.
It works wonderful for flea prevention as well as ants, spiders and mosquitoes.
Another thing you an use to prevent any critters from getting into your house is to save coffee grounds and run them along your foundation.

E.T.A
You can also put garlic powder in your dogs or cats food and it to will prevent fleas. Just put a light dusting on and mix it up.

4 HEADS? So what if I have more than 4 heads I'd like to boil? Can I???

OMG NO! Never boil more than 4 heads of anything at any 1 time. Sheesh!

what a nerd CK

I should have added and I am sorry, NEVER feed your animals raw garlic as it can cause anemia, as can raw onions.

quote:

Originally posted by indigurl:
I should have added and I am sorry, NEVER feed your animals raw garlic as it can cause anemia, as can raw onions.

Now you tell me, after I have shoved raw garlic down my cats and dogs throats for the past 2 hours. J/K!
That is good to know Indi! :-)

quote:

Originally posted by indigurl:
what a nerd CK

Did I say you could call me a nerd? NO I DID NOT!!

So nobody else has actually used DE?