Setting up coop, help a newbie out!

[aart]

Always interesting to see old threads pop up.
Wonders how @Mallori's coop worked out?

Another bedding product is peat and studies show it is better at reducing ammonia levels in litter so consider peat as it helps prevent ammonia toxicity in chickens who are at particular risk in winter due to lack of ventilation and spending more time indoors. Also keep bedding clean/fresh. Adding zeolite 100g/kg to bedding also helps reduce odors and decrease ammonia, moisture,and pH. Zeolite is like Manna Pro or DooKashi odor Eliminators that help compost litter as well. Clean and paint that beautiful!

Where are you finding this info? Would like to read the study about using 'peat'....and....

A coop should have plenty of ventilation even in winter.

Zeolite is mineral that absorbs ammonia, cheapest to buy 25 or 40 lbs bags of Sweet PDZ granules...the little manna pro bottle is crazy expensive( $0.40/lb vs ~$2/lb).
Dookashi is 'wheat bran and probiotic' for $15/lb....not zeolite.

 

[ChicksforZ]

Good morning, Retiring grandpa and grandson are jumping into the chicken business. Where do we start?

 

[aart]

Good morning, Retiring grandpa and grandson are jumping into the chicken business. Where do we start?

Welcome to BYC!
Best to start with an introduction thread, click this link:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forums/new-member-introductions.44/create-thread

 

[Melky]

Always interesting to see old threads pop up.
Wonders how @Mallori's coop worked out?

Where are you finding this info? Would like to read the study about using 'peat'....and....

A coop should have plenty of ventilation even in winter.

Zeolite is mineral that absorbs ammonia, cheapest to buy 25 or 40 lbs bags of Sweet PDZ granules...the little manna pro bottle is crazy expensive( $0.40/lb vs ~$2/lb).
Dookashi is 'wheat bran and probiotic' for $15/lb....not zeolite.

Thanks for your interest. I am working on an article on Ammonia Toxicity that will have references. Should be out soon.
Here are three on peat and zeolites that are most important for reducing ammonia, moisture, and pH in bedding. These will be in my article. Thanks!

Poultry DVM. (2018). Ammonia toxicity. Retrieved from
http://www.poultrydvm.com/condition/ammonia-burn

Under Adsorbers in this article:
Shah, S., Westerman, P., & Parson, J. (2012). Air quality; Poultry litter amendments.
Air Quality Education in Animal Agriculture. The USDA National Institute of Food
and Agriculture. Retrieved from https://articles.extension.org/sites/default/files
/Litter Amendments FINAL.pdf

Last one on zeolite effective dosing:
Schneider, A.F., Almeida, D.S., Yuri, F.M., Zimmermann, O.F., Gerber, M.W., &
Gewehr, C.E. (2016). Natural zeolites in diet or litter of broilers. British Poultry
Science, 57(2), 257-263.