PDZ Coop Refresher

[ValerieJ]

I was going to say the same thing. Interested to know before I try PDZ.

 

[ChickenTenderKesha]

I’m so sorry for your losses Sirwilson, I hope you can figure out what caused this

I was going to say the same thing. Interested to know before I try PDZ.

We are all here to gain knowledge and see what’s going on it seems, I was just thinking about poop boards and PDZ earlier today

 

[ValerieJ]

I’m so sorry for your losses Sirwilson, I hope you can figure out what caused this


We are all here to gain knowledge and see what’s going on it seems, I was just thinking about poop boards and PDZ earlier today

We're building a new coop in March with the PDZ/sand mixture on the poop boards as well.

 

[aart]

I have recently been using PDZ Coop Refresher. I have had 3 chickens die after coop cleaning and applying this.

@Srwilson77 How long ago is "recently"?

Since before these deaths?:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/i’ve-had-2-chickens-die-suddenly-1-1-2-weeks-and-don’t-know-why.1343103/#post-22045033

Thinking you are dealing with something else here,
the necrospy and histology suggestion is a good one.

I've used PDZ for 6 years, on poop boards and in brooder, no deaths connected to it's use.

 

[Peepsi]

I use sweet PDZ mixed in the sand in my coop and run. I use it very liberally and have had no deaths. (In fact, I just spread a bunch of it around yesterday, and today, everyone is fine.)

Definitely get a necropsy done on your birds. The PDZ itself should not be toxic, and should be safe for chickens. That means that most likely, either your PDZ was tainted with something else that was toxic, or your chickens died of something completely unrelated.

 

[lifein1840]

I have recently been using PDZ Coop Refresher. I have had 3 chickens die after coop cleaning and applying this. I don’t know if this is the definitive cause, but now I’m wondering. The girls are absolutely fine and healthy, I clean the coop, put in the refresher and when I go to close the coop at sundown, bam, another one of my ladies has died. I don’t know if they’re eating it but I am guessing they are. It says all natural and organic on the bag, but I can’t find a list of actual ingredients. Am I crazy? Any thoughts?

Thank you!

I have been using it for years with no problems. I use it in the tray that is under the roost so i can scoop the poop like cat litter! My girls sometimes do eat it and a couple prefer it to regular granite grit...go figure! Are you using it as a floor cover? I have a friend that was using sand on the floor of her coop and lost a couple of hens because they were eating too much sand. I'm really sorry to hear about you loosing some chickens.

 

[Cryss]

I use PDZ and my chickens are very healthy. I believe you are dealing with something else entirely. Have a necropsy done. Any current or future replacement birds are in danger of catching whatever is killing your birds. The use of PDZ is only coincidental.

 

[HotDesertChick]

I think granulated Sweet PDZ Stall Refresher is the best thing since sliced bread.

Have only been using it for about five years now though. I only use it as "litter-box filler" on the long poop board beneath the roosting area. Have never intentionally put it on the floor of the coop. But (even though we live in an arid clime), the Girls still manage to "migrate/drag" some of the zeolite down to the floor. This product works GREAT, to absorb smells, and I have had zero losses from birds in contact with granulated Sweet PDZ. The hens have a long dirt run, so they are not in constant contact with the product.

I agree with others, who have suggested a post-mortem look, especially at the crop and digestive tract. Many, many, things can cause chickens to Croak......?

 

[Malamute1]

I have recently been using PDZ Coop Refresher. I have had 3 chickens die after coop cleaning and applying this. I don’t know if this is the definitive cause, but now I’m wondering. The girls are absolutely fine and healthy, I clean the coop, put in the refresher and when I go to close the coop at sundown, bam, another one of my ladies has died. I don’t know if they’re eating it but I am guessing they are. It says all natural and organic on the bag, but I can’t find a list of actual ingredients. Am I crazy? Any thoughts?

Thank you!

I too use PDZ. I've been using it since my girls left the brooder pen. I use the granules. My peeps will be a yr old in May. How much are you using at one time. I just finished my first bag last month. I remove all shaving n hay about every 10 day to 2 wks. I have 9 peeps and a small coop. I put a lite layer of pdz down before a layer of shavings, then a lite layer of hay.I also sprinkle lite layer of pdz on top of the hay. Then I kind of pat the hay so granules get into the hay, not sit on top. Every 3 days I use a small hand rake and pull layer of hay out, check for wet spots in the shavings and replace the hay n sprinkle pdz. I dust lightly with DE when I change out all bedding. I also close run door so girls can't get in the coop and open the coop doors till the DE dust settles. We are putting up a bigger coop this spring. Hoping I won't have to clean as often with bigger coop. I live in FL. Our humidity is high. Poop stays moist with out pdz. I didn't realize how much drier the coop stays till I ran out. I would do a necropsy too. Your other n future chicks will be at risk too. So sorry you lost chickens to this problem. I hope you figure out what's causing the problem.

 

[leighks]

So sorry for your losses. Like many others who posted here, I have used PDZ for almost 3 years without any problems. I have sand in the coop and use about 1/2 bag per week of new PDZ (the coop is very large, around 14’ x 16’). I’m sure they have eaten some but have never had a problem with illness or death. It’s made from a volcanic rock material so it’s natural and organic. I researched it before using it and only read good things about it.