My neighbor's simple trick for keeping the coop clean | Backyard Chicken Keepers

Robert Bennett · 2026-03-15T10:10:08.484154+00:00

I was chatting with my neighbor, Carol, last week while she was cleaning her run. She said she sprinkles a thin layer of food-grade diatomaceous earth over the fresh bedding, about a cup per 10 square feet. She told me, 'It helps keep things dry and cuts down on bugs without any harsh chemicals.' I started doing it three days ago and the coop already smells fresher. Has anyone else used this method and noticed a difference with flies?

faith_thomas6mo ago

I always thought DE was just for bugs. But after seeing how much drier my coop floor stays, I'm a total convert. It really cuts down on that damp smell.

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diana_flores257mo ago

That's a great point about gnats. I actually found the DE made a HUGE difference with mites, which nobody really talks about. I had a small mite problem last summer and adding the DE to the bedding like Carol does totally broke their life cycle. It's the drying action that gets them, not just the sharp edges. My girls dust bathe in it and come out so clean.

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grant8387mo ago

Did it help with the gnats too, or just the flies?

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