Changing to Sweet PDZ

[Chad Oftedal]

Since you're going with poop boards:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/feedback-for-8x8-coop-inside-layout.1224022/
You might consider shavings on the floor, 1 or 2 bales a year would do the trick.
8x8 is a lot of PDZ and I'm not sure what the advantage would be.

Perfect. Makes sense. I just wanted to make sure I wasn’t missing something, but with the boards catching most of the droppings, it sounds like it wouldn’t be cost effective and not adding much performance value.
Thanks!

 

[HamsterStyle]

Is this what you are using? Is around a buck a pound average price? Still happy with it?

 

[aart]

Is this what you are using? Is around a buck a pound average price? Still happy with it?

It's what I, and most, use.
~$16 for 40#...so $0.40 per lb...but I buy local so no shipping costs.

 

[SueT]

Is this what you are using? Is around a buck a pound average price? Still happy with it?

I get it at TSC for $9.99 a bag, and I see it's on sale now.

On a side note, I suspect like it may be causing sinus issues. I wear a dust mask when using it, cleaning it, but feel it gets around and then I cough a lot.

 

[jthornton]

Is this what you are using? Is around a buck a pound average price? Still happy with it?

I got mine at Rural King about $9 a bag.

JT

 

[BiddyBiddy]

Ok...I'm still working on my coffee so any calculation errors are not my fault!

Zeolite density is approx 0.8 g/cm3. Make sure you get the granules and NOT the powder.

The area you're looking at is 5 ft x 4 ft, (and assuming a depth of 3 inches). So that's 152x123x8 in cm. Approx 150,000 cm3 (volume)

A 25 # bag is pdz is enough for 11,360 cm3 (25# / 2.2 #/kg * 1000 g/kg)

150,000/11360 = approx 10.5 (25#) bags for 5' x 4' x 3"

Or...if I did this correctly...each full cubic foot of space takes 2 (25#) bags. If you wanted your area at 4 inches deep it would be 5 x 4 x (4"/12") = 6.66 cu ft...so 13 bags at that depth.

I have 100% pdz in my coop and run and it's amazing. As long as you keep it dry it takes less than 5 minutes to scoop the poop and make it look almost brand new again. I use a long handled Brinkman 36" wok skimmer found here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004UR1X50/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

View attachment 1253313 View attachment 1253315

I live the wok skimmer! I have a long 12 foot roosting bar with about 2” of sweet pdz underneath. I love the no smell factor but Ive been using a kitty litter scoop daily and it’s just too small. I love your wok skimmer idea. That would cut down scooping time dramatically. I gotta get me one if those!

 

[Cacique500]

I live the wok skimmer! I have a long 12 foot roosting bar with about 2” of sweet pdz underneath. I love the no smell factor but Ive been using a kitty litter scoop daily and it’s just too small. I love your wok skimmer idea. That would cut down scooping time dramatically. I gotta get me one if those!

Here's the one I got: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004UR1X50/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[Quaillvr]

The poop boards are not big enough to catch all the poop... they are growing lol. The roost area is 5' x 4'. Looks like Rural King in Farmington also has Sweet PDZ sounds like an early dinner for me and the misses at Waynos in Fredricktown... best Cajun food for miles

JT

Not sure if you have already heard, but you can purchase the sweet pdz on Amazon, delivered to your door, depending on your area I guess.

 

[jthornton]

Not sure if you have already heard, but you can purchase the sweet pdz on Amazon, delivered to your door, depending on your area I guess.

Don't think I would pay $34 a bag to get it from Amazon and miss the fun of a little road trip and a good meal.

JT

 

[Quaillvr]

Don't think I would pay $34 a bag to get it from Amazon and miss the fun of a little road trip and a good meal.

JT

I don’t remember it being that much more. Larger bag perhaps?