new bug

[staceyj]

It’s used as a substrate.
Think “kitty litter” for chickens!

Some people use it on their poop boards. Some on the floor of their coop. It’s pricey but really good stuff. It makes picking up poops easy. It neutralizes ammonia too which is a big plus (and why people use it in horse barns) but doesn’t mean you shouldn’t clean up after your chickens!

 

[Shanny123]

Wow, is that better to use in the floor of their pen and coop area instead of pine shavings or straw? Thanks for explaining it.

 

[Shanny123]

It’s used as a substrate.
Think “kitty litter” for chickens!

Some people use it on their poop boards. Some on the floor of their coop. It’s pricey but really good stuff. It makes picking up poops easy. It neutralizes ammonia too which is a big plus (and why people use it in horse barns) but doesn’t mean you shouldn’t clean up after your chickens!

Thank you. I wonder if Tractor Supply might carry it? Also do you add garlic to your hens water? I read somewhere that some do that. Wonder if it would make eggs taste different? Hubby doesn't like garlic. I do!! Thanks.

 

[trudyg]

Tractor Supply does have pdz. I use 3 bags and change it quarterly (or thereabouts). The bugs look like the earwig pics above but seems like the tail was not forked. Anyway, I got home today and went to scoop, didn't see a single one. I had not planned on a deep coop clean until end of April since we have lots of sports, birthdays, etc until then, but will move it up to this weekend. Can't stand bugs! I wanted to get a picture but didn't see any so, hopefully, I've got them under some sort of control until the big clean this weekend. Every spring, I do a big clean. Everything comes out, sweep all the dust off the rafters and get cobwebs down, wash the floor and walls as high as I can reach, let it air out and dry, then spray all the nooks and crannies with permethrin spray, let that dry, then clean bedding and pdz.

Pdz is great for the poop boards but would be kind of pricey for the entire floor. I have a cat litter scooper and a big ice cream bucket, scoop every day when I get home from work. Dump it all into my compost pile (in the winter, I dump it around the azaleas and pecan trees). My compost pile is just a wire ring maybe 3' diameter. When you add in dirty bedding, it's a nice place for planting potatoes. I make a hole down the middle (not all the way down) and put in a bag of potting soil, then the seed potatoes. Water it every so often, add more dirty bedding (not poop, too rich in nitrogen) as the plants sprout up and, in the fall when the sprouts die back, open the ring and spread it around to find your spuds. Easy peasy.

I have recently, maybe the last 2 cleanouts, started using a different bedding than the wood flakes. Can't remember the name of it, but it's kind of green and cut in 1" pieces. Smells so fresh and they love scratching thru it and I get eggs in all sorts of new places since they like making nests in it.

Thanks everyone for your help! I always know where to turn when I have a chicken question. YOu guys are the best!

 

[Shanny123]

Tractor Supply does have pdz. I use 3 bags and change it quarterly (or thereabouts). The bugs look like the earwig pics above but seems like the tail was not forked. Anyway, I got home today and went to scoop, didn't see a single one. I had not planned on a deep coop clean until end of April since we have lots of sports, birthdays, etc until then, but will move it up to this weekend. Can't stand bugs! I wanted to get a picture but didn't see any so, hopefully, I've got them under some sort of control until the big clean this weekend. Every spring, I do a big clean. Everything comes out, sweep all the dust off the rafters and get cobwebs down, wash the floor and walls as high as I can reach, let it air out and dry, then spray all the nooks and crannies with permethrin spray, let that dry, then clean bedding and pdz.

Pdz is great for the poop boards but would be kind of pricey for the entire floor. I have a cat litter scooper and a big ice cream bucket, scoop every day when I get home from work. Dump it all into my compost pile (in the winter, I dump it around the azaleas and pecan trees). My compost pile is just a wire ring maybe 3' diameter. When you add in dirty bedding, it's a nice place for planting potatoes. I make a hole down the middle (not all the way down) and put in a bag of potting soil, then the seed potatoes. Water it every so often, add more dirty bedding (not poop, too rich in nitrogen) as the plants sprout up and, in the fall when the sprouts die back, open the ring and spread it around to find your spuds. Easy peasy.

I have recently, maybe the last 2 cleanouts, started using a different bedding than the wood flakes. Can't remember the name of it, but it's kind of green and cut in 1" pieces. Smells so fresh and they love scratching thru it and I get eggs in all sorts of new places since they like making nests in it.

Thanks everyone for your help! I always know where to turn when I have a chicken question. YOu guys are the best!

You are so generous with your info! Thank you! The compost turned potato planter sounds great too! I will definitely get some pdz. Thanks so much!!

 

[staceyj]

Thank you. I wonder if Tractor Supply might carry it? Also do you add garlic to your hens water? I read somewhere that some do that. Wonder if it would make eggs taste different? Hubby doesn't like garlic. I do!! Thanks.

Yes they have it.
And no I don’t personally but lots of people do!