baking soda.....

[johari]

No question is a stupid question right? Would it be ok to sprinkle a bit of baking soda under the bedding in my duckling's pen while they are in the house to help with the smell? I do change out their bedding at last once, sometimes twice a day.

I used to sprinkle a bit in the bottom of my rat's cages. But I didn't know if it was ok for ducks.

 

[Eggcessive]

I would think it they ate some of it the sodium would be bad for them.

 

[johari]

I was thinking about that... Possibly putting the baking soda down, then paper over that and then their shavings.....

 

[Amiga]

Have you thought of Sweet PDZ? You need to be careful with anything dusty, so it won't hurt little lungs. So much to be concerned about with littles. They are so adorable, though.

But if you put the baking soda down, then a sheet of something, then some bedding over that, then the wet stuff would soak into the baking soda. Hmmm.

70%cocoa uses a hardware cloth bottomed brooder, with a towel over the hardware cloth and a pan underneath. It dries out pretty well, spills are caught by the pan, and the towel is lifted out, shaken and washed out.

 

[johari]

That's why I asked before just doing it. I don't want to harm them.

I think I figured out something so that their pen won't get as dirty as quickly. I dunno yet though. I've been getting a ton of ideas on here. So glad I joined this board.

 

[Amiga]

I'm glad, too. We all benefit from each other. Welcome!

 

[LightningTFarm]

I use Sweet PDZ in my duck house all the time, and I swear by the stuff. I go out every day and use a small kid-sized rake to pick up the poopy bits of bedding, which go into a bucket to be dumped on the compost pile. Once I get the nasties out, I rake the bedding, add a thin layer of new pine shavings, and then sprinkle the Sweet PDZ on the top. Even in the middle of a hot Texas summer, the duck house does not stink and flies are not a problem. It helps the watery duck poop clump up, so it's easier to pick it up the next day. When the weather is rainy and the run gets muddy and stinky, I even sprinkle it in the run. I use the little rake every morning to scoop up as much poop from the dirt run as possible, to keep the smell down in there, too. The difference in the smell between when I didn't use it and after I started was unbelievable!! It doesn't take much, either. I use an 8 oz yogurt cup full of it every day, and just sprinkle it lightly over the bedding. My duck house is about 6 x 8 ft, so it's not much stuff but it makes a big difference.

I will NEVER be without Sweet PDZ! I get it at Tractor Supply, though one of the stores near me said they didn't think they'd be carrying it anymore. The other had plenty when I stopped by a few days later. I have asked the guy who owns the feed store in the small town where I live if he can start getting it, so I can just buy it from him. I would mail order it if I had to, seriously.

 

[BarredRockGirls]

im glad you posted this ! i was just going to ask someone what to use ... i need to get this PDZ stuff... my ducks are in a brooder right next to / but separate from my 15 pullets - who are almost 5 weeks - and omg they are pooping machines these days . i used to be able to go in there and turn the hens bedding over 2 x a day everyday and rotate half the bedding every 4 days then all of it at 2 weeks- no smell.... but now turning it doesnt help i have to change it every 3 days or its complete smelly yuck! and i just got my ducks! ill have to get this PDZ stuff and a LOT of it!

 

[GarDenFarmGirl]

Sweet PDZ is a lifesaver! And as an earlier post said - you don't need much. I use it in large plastic bins on the poop boards under my chicken roosts and then scoop droppings out just like cleaning a kitty litter box in the mornings. It works wonderfully, and no bad smell at all. I sprinkled it in the shavings in the bottom of the coop when I had ducks and chickens combined and it kept everything dry and I was using the deep litter method. It's not expensive and easy to use. It comes in powder and granules - I use the granules. I am just starting to use it in my new duck house so I am anxious to see how it works there - part of the area is rock (next to their swimming pool), part is dirt with shavings and part is pavers with shavings - I am thinking it will be great there too! And from everything I have read it is perfectly safe for all poultry and farm animals. It was developed to be used in horse stalls to keep them dry and reduce the ammonia smell...

 

[johari]

So, I can find this at a feed store?