Change Sweet PDZ to straw/shavings for winter?

[meandthegals]

Background: I live in Southern Idaho (Star) and I use Sweet PDZ or ZEO in my coop.

Should I change it out to straw or shavings for the winter?

Thanks!

 

[emmajane07]

You do your whole coop in PDZ? I thought that was just sprinkled to keep odors down. I am putting leaves in my coop for the winter, with a little pine shavings (no cedar). Hopefully someone can chime in who uses straw/hay.

 

[Blooie]

The only place I use Sweet PDZ is on the poop board. I use a combination of pine shavings, leaves, grass clippings, straw, garden waste, etc on the floor of the coop and run. The chickens burrow in it when it's cold in winter and dig hollows and lay in them with their wings spread out wide when it's hot outside. I don't think that using PDZ on the floor of the coop would offer them much warmth in the winter, but it is certainly your call and you should do whatever you are comfortable with. For me, the PDZ on the poop board plus the deep litter on the floors keeps my coop odor free, and that works for me.

 

[aart]

Same here PDZ on the poop boards only, oh and what gets kicked off the boards onto the floor.
~2-3 inches of kiln dried pine shavings on insulated floor....gets to about 5-6 inches by winters end from adding extra when it's get really cold.