Dry nest boxes

DE is cheap at a garden supply outlet. Used for slugs etc,.

markevans wrote:

I'm thinking of getting some DE to try this year a mate of mine used it with great success got rid of all the little moths

the food grade de is a powder and works great for controlling crawling bugs, sprinkle it are areas that you want to treat. it causes microscopic cuts in their exoskeleton as they crawl through it and causes them to dry out and die. also mix it in to the feed and it works like wormer, cattle ranchers feed it to calves if they get scours, it's got 101 uses

markevans wrote:

I'm thinking of getting some DE to try this year a mate of mine used it with great success got rid of all the little moths

Where will you buy it from Mark?

I have looked around Google but all I can find is 20 kg back at nearly £30.00!

Surly it can be that expensive.

Phil

Don't no yet Phil eBay most likely £6.25+69 p+p for one kilo but that's dear that when its £30 for 20 kilos perhaps buy a big with a couple of mates

What I would be doing but never had to, never having had the problem, is find the cause and illuminate it.

Regards.

YOU COULD ALSO ILLIMINATE IT.

Regards.

damp and excess moisture in a loft is not good ....are the boxes damp because of wet droppings or rain getting in ,my lofts are very open wire doors on the inside of every loft and big vents top and bottom but never damp ...maybe the airflow is not correct ...diatomaceous earth is very good to sprinkle in the nest pan under a felt or in with nesting material just a egg cup full under each felt each round of ybs does the trick of keeping any nasties away but for controlling moisture I would say its a no as its talc like consistency will get damp and stay damp so yer in the same boat after a few days .......a blow torch is handy to get rid of any damp patches immediately atb

oldstrain wrote:

damp and excess moisture in a loft is not good ....are the boxes damp because of wet droppings or rain getting in ,my lofts are very open wire doors on the inside of every loft and big vents top and bottom but never damp ...maybe the airflow is not correct ...diatomaceous earth is very good to sprinkle in the nest pan under a felt or in with nesting material just a egg cup full under each felt each round of ybs does the trick of keeping any nasties away but for controlling moisture I would say its a no as its talc like consistency will get damp and stay damp so yer in the same boat after a few days .......a blow torch is handy to get rid of any damp patches immediately atb

my loft is open front, plenty of air movement. the weather here is cold at night warm during the day, humidity is 92% right now. with the birds in the nest boxes + the humidity + changing temps = moisture. the only way i can see combating it would be with a heated loft. we usually see these conditions in early spring when the snow is really melting but doesn't last very long and things dry up. the qualisorb that i tried is doing an awesome job of keeping the nest boxes dry. it doesn't get soggy and mushy like clay based stuff, makes cleaning the boxes very easy.
my original concern was if the birds ate it cause it is the same size and texture as cat litter but so far no problems

good to hear the quailsorb has sorted it for you mate atb

halcanada wrote:

DE is cheap at a garden supply outlet. Used for slugs etc,.

Cheap you must live on another planet to me Hal 3kg, 40/50 dollars here & so not the type of thing one would use big time down here, if ever    .  

https://www.walmart.com/c/ep/diatomaceous-earth
You need very little of it.

Time out for me. Dogs need their usual run in the dark and snow. Take care folks.