Pennsylvania!! Unite!!

[Werforpsu]

Christmas is FINALLY over for us...well almost.

Hubby got a heated chicken waterer from his mom for Christmas so fingers crossed that he likes using it. So far, the temps are in the 20's and the water is not frozen so I call it a success!

We got snow last night, enough for a 2 hr delay here this morning.

I have a feeling that 2017 is going to be really busy!

hope you all are well, I'll check back when I can!

 

[AnneInTheBurbs]

Quote: Thanks for the planting info, I will be putting it to good use! As for the run improvements we are all doing, I had a Duh! moment with regards to mine. I had laid the plastic PVC pipe flat to form a support for a tarp covering. But then I realized I should curve them and attach them on the outside of the boards, and make more like a hoop house roof. That way I won't hopefully have to worry too much about snow on the roof, and it should be pretty easy to do. Now off to Lowe's today to buy a few supplies....

I was looking on BYC yesterday, and saw someone had a different version of a poop board, with a shelf with sides that held Sweet PDZ. It was just scooped like kitty litter. I really like that idea, and may try to implement that in the spring. Sounds like it may be less work than scraping the poop board I have right now.

Christmas is FINALLY over for us...well almost.

Hubby got a heated chicken waterer from his mom for Christmas so fingers crossed that he likes using it. So far, the temps are in the 20's and the water is not frozen so I call it a success!

We got snow last night, enough for a 2 hr delay here this morning.

I have a feeling that 2017 is going to be really busy!

hope you all are well, I'll check back when I can!

Happy New Year to you! The heated waterers are the only way to go. Worth every penny, you stay warm, and your animals have a fresh supply of water.

 

[dheltzel]

I was looking on BYC yesterday, and saw someone had a different version of a poop board, with a shelf with sides that held Sweet PDZ. It was just scooped like kitty litter. I really like that idea, and may try to implement that in the spring. Sounds like it may be less work than scraping the poop board I have right now.

It sounds like a great idea, but I think my birds would use it for a dust bathe and kick all the PDZ out in short order. Maybe if they had a better dust bathe setup on the floor they would not be as tempted.

 

[OneMountainAcres]

   I was looking on BYC yesterday, and saw someone had a different version of a poop board, with a shelf with sides that held Sweet PDZ.  It was just scooped like kitty litter.  I really like that idea, and may try to implement that in the spring.  Sounds like it may be less work than scraping the poop board I have right now. 

I was thinking about boxing in my poop boards and loading them with sand so I could just scoop instead of scrape. I think it would be a lot easier to manage. The linoleum that I put down isn't going to be able to withstand the scraper much longer. It's airway torn a few times.

What are the differences and benefits of sand vs sweet PDZ

 

[AnneInTheBurbs]

Quote:
Haha, I'll have to see if my girls try it.

Quote:
This is the ingredient in Sweet PDZ (Potassium-calcium-sodium-aluminosilicate). Some kind of silica. I believe sand is Silica also, but this may be a different kind. I will be sure to post when I start using it.

 

[AnneInTheBurbs]

Also from the manufacturers website:

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.


Granular: We introduced Granular Sweet PDZ as a result of some customers requesting a larger granule size. Many of these customers were using stall mats in their stalls, and they liked how the Granular product performed with their mats. Additionally, many customers liked the less dusty effect the Granular product offered when they applied it in their stalls. Some folks find that it flows more easily out of a cup or scoop when applying it, thus allowing for more efficient use of Sweet PDZ.
Granular Sweet PDZ tends to be the preferred product for application in pet habitats, such as cat boxes, small animal habitats, bird cages and dog runs.

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.
For information about household use of Sweet PDZ visit our Household Use page. For information on the various industrial applications of Zeolites visit www.steelheadspecialtyminerals.com.
For the Sweet PDZ brochure, download here: Sweet PDZ Brochure PDF
approximately 2MB

 

[dheltzel]

Also from the manufacturers website:

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.


Granular: We introduced Granular Sweet PDZ as a result of some customers requesting a larger granule size. Many of these customers were using stall mats in their stalls, and they liked how the Granular product performed with their mats. Additionally, many customers liked the less dusty effect the Granular product offered when they applied it in their stalls. Some folks find that it flows more easily out of a cup or scoop when applying it, thus allowing for more efficient use of Sweet PDZ.
Granular Sweet PDZ tends to be the preferred product for application in pet habitats, such as cat boxes, small animal habitats, bird cages and dog runs.

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.
For information about household use of Sweet PDZ visit our Household Use page. For information on the various industrial applications of Zeolites visit www.steelheadspecialtyminerals.com.
For the Sweet PDZ brochure, download here: Sweet PDZ Brochure PDF
approximately 2MB

No reason you can't mix sand and PDZ to get a cheaper blend. Also, regular "barn lime" is good for maintaining dryness and "clumping" ability, but it is a bit harsher if the birds spend much time bathing in it. Keying on the dustbath thing, I bet ashes would be a cheap add to sand to make it better for something like this.

 

[AnneInTheBurbs]

Quote:
I know it's the fox guarding the hen house (haha), but here's what the manufacturer says on the site:

Sweet PDZ is the superior and most effective stall freshener product available...

Sweet PDZ is superior to hydrated lime because it does not dry or crack hooves, or sting the eyes and burn the flesh of people or pets/livestock. Barn lime (calcium carbonate) has no odor neutralizing capacity. These lime products, at best, only attempt to cover up or hide the ammonia and odors.

Sweet PDZ is safe and gentle to use. It is an inert mineral, with unique chemistry that actually absorbs & adsorbs moisture and selective gases, such as ammonia. Because of Sweet PDZ’s unique mineral composition, you will have far superior results in neutralizing and eliminating harmful levels of ammonia and odors; and doing so in a much more cost effective way.


I am going to be saving my ashes for the girls the in spring too. Sand sounds like a good idea to save money. I will start with the straight PDZ and see how it goes. A 25# bag at TSC is $10. My Agway has #40 bags, but I haven't seen the cost yet.

 

[fisherlady]

Thanks for the planting info, I will be putting it to good use!  As for the run improvements we are all doing, I had a Duh! moment with regards to mine.  I had laid the plastic PVC pipe flat to form a support for a tarp covering.  But then I realized I should curve them and attach them on the outside of the boards, and make more like a hoop house roof.  That way I won't hopefully have to worry too much about snow on the roof, and it should be pretty easy to do.  Now off to Lowe's today to buy a few supplies....

   I was looking on BYC yesterday, and saw someone had a different version of a poop board, with a shelf with sides that held Sweet PDZ.  It was just scooped like kitty litter.  I really like that idea, and may try to implement that in the spring.  Sounds like it may be less work than scraping the poop board I have right now. 

Happy New Year to you! The heated waterers are the only way to go. Worth every penny, you stay warm, and your animals have a fresh supply of water.

It sounds like a great idea, but I think my birds would use it for a dust bathe and kick all the PDZ out in short order. Maybe if they had a better dust bathe setup on the floor they would not be as tempted.

I was thinking about boxing in my poop boards and loading them with sand so I could just scoop instead of scrape. I think it would be a lot easier to manage. The linoleum that I put down isn't going to be able to withstand the scraper much longer. It's airway torn a few times.

What are the differences and benefits of sand vs sweet PDZ

We have done the 'sand shelves'....and they do work well, but require regular sifting. We use play sand, or sugar sand about 1.5" deep and put a heavy scattering of PDZ on top of the sand after sifting. The shelves do sometimes get used as dusting areas (especially during the winter) but it hasn't been a problem.

If I were building new ones I would make them about 3.5" deep instead of the 2" they are now. We capped the edges with 2x4s laid on their side for the birds to roost on but sometimes their butts overhang too close to the sand and their poop sticks to their feathers by the back end of their stomachs instead of falling clear like it would if there was more space between them and the sand.

Overall I like the set up, and find it worth the extra bit of maintenance.

The tool we made by cutting some of the plastic out of the base of dust pan and lining it with hardware cloth to act as a sifter, to do the floor we did the same with a deep sided snow shovel. We also lined a cat litter scoop for getting into smaller areas, since the litter scoop was actually slotted too large for the sand and small balls of chicken poo.
Make sure any dust pan or snow shovel you choose is very sturdy, especially where the handle connects in. And avoid sharp edges where the handle joins in the back of the pan, when sifting your hand will rub this area and sharp edges make it uncomfortable to use.

Sorry , middle picture was an accidental inclusion....lol

 

[AnneInTheBurbs]

I wish you weren't so far away! I would invite myself over for a visit and take notes! Thanks for the pics!