Hi everyone, I have read about using Diat. Earth in chickens food as a natural wormer and also heard another goat breeder sprinkles it on her goats backs for lice/fleas. Have any of you experienced any of this yourself? Any suggestions? Comments?
Also I am trying to get my goat kit more complete-I read you should have Probios on hand. Is that supposed to have vitamin E in it? I found some today at the feed store but it didn't so I didn't buy it. Any advice for buying this for sick goats? Certain brand, special type or ingredients?
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I've used DE for my chickens in a special dusting tub where they eat the dirt mix as well as dust in it. I've also used it to our dogs to help prevent ticks which seem terribly abundant this year - it seemed to help after being applied as we saw a decrease in the number attaching. I think only one dog had one or two more come after application. As far as using it for the goats, I've sprinkled it amongst their bedding in the barn and I sprinkle it in the temp. pasture pens before putting them in. We are fortunate to be able to get a sweet deal on DE so I don't have worries on how much I go through and use it fairly liberally. I also sprinkle it in the chicken's coops and dog's bedding. We've had no problems with lice or fleas, but never had one initially so I can't really say if the DE is a factor or not. I'm just using it as an additional preventative.
With the probios I'm a total newbie to the goat world and have only had my herd since May, but can tell you I have and have used Goats Prefer Probiotic Paste. I also have the powder form of this and it is called Probiotic Power. The paste just seemed a bit easier to me for kids to make sure they got it all. It does say it contains Vitamin E.
I have used it for lice, and it has worked well once, and not worked well once. The first time, it seemed to work perfectly. The second time, it didn't work and dried their skin out terribly bad. I must have over used it when it didn't seem to be working.
I have added it to their minerals, but I don't know if it did anything.
There's a good thread here about the DE for use against lice and biting insects. I know I've seen more too. You can go up to the search box at the very top right and type in your search terms and it will bring up threads about it:
http://nigeriandwarfgoats.ning.com/forum/topics/questions-about-usi...
I buy ProBios at TSC or my local farm store. My goats love it and I give it if one has an upset rumen. Not sure whether it has vitamin E though. I buy a different one for that with selenium and vitamin E to give before kidding.