DE vs Stall Dry

[StaatsFarms]

I see people on here saying they sprinkle DE in their coops and other people use stall dry... what is the difference between the 2 and which will be a better product

 

[chuckzoo]

DE is straight food grade diatomatious earth, whereas stall dry is DE in clay pellets. It depends on what you want to achieve.

 

[Tuffoldhen]

I use both!

 

[angelb]

Is it easier to find stall dry? I searched everywhere locally for DE and couldn't find it. Shiping charges on a 50lb bag are a killer! Can the stall dry pellets be crushed/dissolved and used for white wash like DE can?

 

[Chicky Tocks]

I bought Sweet PDZ in powdered form. This was the closest I could get to Stall Dry from where I live in Arkansas. It also came in pellets, but I chose the powder. So I'm wondering what percentage of Swee PDZ is De?

ETA: Silly Me!!!

What is Sweet PDZ?

Zeolites were formed from volcanic activity millions of years ago, and it should be stressed, that all zeolites have unique characteristics and abilities. The clinoptilolite (Clino) that comprises Sweet PDZ is one of the very best at ammonia absorption and odor neutralization.

Classic/Powder: This is the original Sweet PDZ product that was introduced in 1983. The key advantage of this small particle size is the fact that a person can more thoroughly and comprehensively cover the wet spot or problem area. This results in a faster acting performance of absorbing and adsorbing the ammonia and odor. Many Sweet PDZ users translate this faster performance to better performance, and will swear that the Sweet PDZ Classic/Powder outperforms Granular. Who are we to argue with our customers? An additional benefit to some users, is the fact that the Powder usually has a lower retail price. As much as $1.00 less per bag versus Granular Sweet PDZ.

How Does Sweet PDZ Work?

Sweet PDZ is extremely effective at neutralizing and removing ammonia and odors, because of its two special properties:

1) Adsorption - Which is the sticking of the ammonia gas molecule to the surface of the Sweet PDZ granule. When the Sweet PDZ granules desorb, or dries out, the ammonia odor molecule is driven off the surface of the mineral as nitrogen. This is why spent (used) bedding material that includes Sweet PDZ, works so well as a slow release fertilizer or as an enhancement to composting.

2) Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC) - This is the liquid exchange aspect of Sweet PDZ’s odor neutralizing process. A sodium or potassium cation from the zeolite granule hydrolyzes (goes to liquid/urine) and the ammonium is exchanged and then becomes part of the Sweet PDZ granule. This liquid exchange works because the Sweet PDZ granules are always holding water.


The Bottom Line: Sweet PDZ captures, neutralizes and eliminates harmful ammonia and odors, and it does so through its natural chemistry, not by covering up the odor with a perfume or masking scent.

These unique mineral characteristics make Sweet PDZ useful not only in the barn, but also in litter boxes, pet habitats, garbage receptacles, garages, crawl spaces, etc.

 

[StaatsFarms]

Quote:
I am reading it will help with the smell (although I clean the coop once every couple weeks) and also help prevent mites...which I do not have and want to keep it that way... I was just wondering which one everyone prefers and what exactly both do... I too cannot find a local supplier of DE and am trying to prevent spending so much on shipping

 

[chuckzoo]

DE is great added to the sand box for them to dust bath in. Some people add it to their feed at a rate of 2%, apparently this gives better feed conversion.

The clay pelletized DE is great for moisture absorption, ammonia removal and generally keeping things dry and thus smelling better.

A 50LB bag of straight DE will cost ~ $27 and ~$27 for shipping but can last a long time. I had to bite the bullet too and order on line as I could not get it locally.

The pelletized form seems more readily available. Be sure to get Food Grade DE.

 

[damselfish]

Staats farms, try a health food store. We got a 50 lb bag from a new age/crystal/health food kind of place that DH ran across while he was at work. They had purchased it to sell as a food additive (some people swear by it, apparently), but it was not selling and we bought the whole bag with hardly any used out of it.

 

[StaatsFarms]

Quote:
thank-you...we have a few of them around here.... I will make some calls tomorrow