Poop board convert *warning-graphic/gross poop pictures*

[jackhorn01]

Indeed it is a great idea, I will be building one myself. This is an awesome thread.

 

[Missa Chickabee]

Update: Well,we called and called for Mittens. Late afternoon I took another tearful walk in the woods, resigned she's gone. I called "Mittens! Kitty Kitty" and I hear a small meow.
So I tracked the sound. She was centered in a very thick pile of broken branches and brush. She looked absolutely vacant and was light as a feather when I picked her up. Had to get right into the brush and get her. Brought her in and she drank and drank and drank. I was thinking of giving her some 'chick-saver'. This has nothing to do with poop boards so I will leave this happy interlude to tell you that....

The poop board is finally built and painted with the white rubber paint. I'll put another coat on in the morning and then will put it up tomorrow night. I'll take a pic or two when the crew have finally decided each of them will sit on their new roost. Thrilled. Clean-up's going to be a piece of cake.

Actually, since we still have a cat, I'm thinking of using the PDZ for kitty litter, too...or at least put some into her existing litter. No smell.

 

[Donna Lynn]

I'm sorry about your kitty. I love my kitties so much and they are a part of the family. I hope you find her. Saying a little prayer for you and hoping you find comfort in memories of her.


This online community is great! I have learned so much and tried to build the coop according to all the knowledge I received on BYC! I'm thankful for my fellow BYC'ers and all the info sharing!

The girls moved in today! Their housewarming was meal worms. I put them in their coop, opened the vents and let them stay a while, then I opened the pop door and put meal worms all the way down it and the ramp. They figured it out fast! LOL Guess I'll do the same thing for putting them to bed tonight! Hope I can sleep tonight! It's their first night in the coop and I bet I hardly sleep for worrying about them. I know, I know.... My husband thinks I'm nuts, I'm sure but he indulges me! I cleaned the garage today to say thank you for all his help. He's amazing!

I'll post some photos this weekend when I get a chance to take them!

 

[Missa Chickabee]

I'm sorry about your kitty. I love my kitties so much and they are a part of the family. I hope you find her. Saying a little prayer for you and hoping you find comfort in memories of her.


This online community is great! I have learned so much and tried to build the coop according to all the knowledge I received on BYC! I'm thankful for my fellow BYC'ers and all the info sharing!

The girls moved in today! Their housewarming was meal worms. I put them in their coop, opened the vents and let them stay a while, then I opened the pop door and put meal worms all the way down it and the ramp. They figured it out fast! LOL Guess I'll do the same thing for putting them to bed tonight! Hope I can sleep tonight! It's their first night in the coop and I bet I hardly sleep for worrying about them. I know, I know.... My husband thinks I'm nuts, I'm sure but he indulges me! I cleaned the garage today to say thank you for all his help. He's amazing!

I'll post some photos this weekend when I get a chance to take them!

Congrats, Donna Lynn, on yur new coop. I can't wait to see the the pictures. I know it's fabulous. I know all about worrying about my chickens.

Two good things. The poop box is built, on the sawhorses, painted with white rubberized stuff (for roofs) and in 1/2 hour DH is home and we are installing it! I'll takes pics when we're done or tomorrow.

The other: Kitty's recovering. She must have caught my virus. Can't believe how dehydrated and disoriented she was. I don't think she would have lived if I hadn't heard that faint meow. She's 17 but she's got so much life in her. Very thank-ful we have her awhile longer.

Cheryl

 

[Missa Chickabee]

PS. DL, read my update # 472 above. Thanks.

 

[Donna Lynn]

Cheryl,

I'm so glad about your kitty! That is wonderful news! = )

I think the poop board is just genius! I just went out and led them back up the ramp and pop door with worms and let them come back down on their own. We are going to be gone at twilight so I'm curious to see what they will do. I may have to put them in manually tonight! LOL

Photos soon,

DL

 

[cindersga]

Thanks guys

My chickens live right outside my back door so I need something that looks nice next to the house (and smell free

)


joan1708- You can get Sweet PDZ at your local farm store, here on Long Island (NY) it would be Agway. Maybe you have a Tractor Supply? It is a pretty common product so should be easy to find.


Tnchickennewbie- You never have to change out the PDZ. When it starts getting a little low I just add another bag. It really does last a LONG time. It has the same consistency as flour so it lightly coats the poops with "flour". They sell it in 40# bags. I originally brought a bag of it to try and freshen up my sand (that stunk), it then occurred to me that this stuff would be great to use as "kitty litter" on a poop board

Trish

With it being the consistency of flour wouldn't it cause breathing problems for the chickens? I hear they are very sensitive and can get respiratory problems.

 

[Missa Chickabee]

With it being the consistency of flour wouldn't it cause breathing problems for the chickens? I hear they are very sensitive and can get respiratory probl

So far my chickens don't play in it. I wear a mask to do the morning sifting. (I have really reactive lungs) My understanding is that PDZ is in no wise harmful to chickens or any animals.
If anything I think that the neutralization of the ammonia would be beneficial to their little lungs. I'm no expert on the stuff and I'm sure Trish knows a lot more about it but....and this is just
crazy....I actually like cleaning out the coop now. NO STINK!!!

I'm using the granules (sugar consistency), not the powder, but others say the powder is not problem, either. When I see them out in their run just kicking up a dust-storm in the dry dirt when they do their dust baths I've wondered the same thing, but that's what chickens do, so maybe if they have a great "filter system" in their respiratory tract.

 

[MissusC]

I cleaned off the poop board for the first time yesterday with a makeshift rake/hardware cloth rig. It is so easy! Like cleaning the cat box, but less smelly! And there aren't ANY flies in the coop! When I had the girls in the yard in a large kid playyard, the flies were ridiculous. Now most of the poop is in the coop/run and there is no smell and no flies! Thank you all so much. PDZ rocks!

 

[Missa Chickabee]

LOL Missa Chickabee! My chicks are 6 weeks old tomorrow and their coop should be finished and moved from the garage to the backyard tonight. Please Lord, let it be so. Every time we think we are finished, we are NOT. Sigh... I'm ready for them to be outside out of my guest bathroom tub turned brooder. Dusty, poopy little buggers! There is a tarp in the bottom of the tub but they even figured out how to jump through the lattice I put in front of the tub to supposedly contain them.

I'm really excited about using the PDZ/zeolite and DE food grade. We built special poop boards for the girls to be able to sift and remove, if needed, from the coop. We put linoleum down on all the inside floor surfaces and not a single inch of exposed wood is anywhere to be found. We painted all of it with outdoor latex. I'll be posting photos in the next few days once everything is completed. So excited!

I think covering 144 sq ft is a lot.Here's hoping your pocketbook can handle it!

DL

Hi Donna Lynn,

Just wondering how it's going. Can't wait to see your pics. Love looking at everyone's ideas.

I'm going to try to upload a photo of my poop board now. (Non-chicken people think this is just nuts), but poop is such a huge part of my life....from nursing home work to being a sick baby nurse to dogs, cats, fish and now chickens....and they all poop/

Not so bad with PDZ.

Nope. No pics today. The image uploader won't load up "my computer" It says loading and then just goes blank.