Stall dry? Is it safe?

[rubysmom]

My run is a little stinky when it gets wet and I heard a few people mention this dry stall or stall dry product?

We are really trying to keep it all natural and organic. Is it safe for the chickens to eat this off the ground? I noticed it didn't say food grade DE on the bag. Is it the stuff you put in pool filters?

We are in a neighborhood so we really have to watch the odors. I scoop it at least once a day but when it gets wet it stinks whether theres poo or not. We live in OR, lotta rain, so maybe I need to cover the whole run? I only have about 1/3 covered now.

Any other suggestions for keeping smells down naturally

 

[ebonykawai]

I use this without any problems.

 

[My Little Sister's Farm]

we used to put it under our rabbit cages and it's delightful smelling. i think you can use it, some people put it in the areas their chickens dust and it is natural. i actually thought about using it too as it was humid last weekend and the fresh poo pile was smelly!

 

[DottieMarie]

I had asked this same question at our feed store and they recommended not using it because of the additive to give it a good smell. He wasn't certain that it was harmful but suggested "just to be safe" not to use it with birds.

 

[pips&peeps]

Ruby,

Sweet PDZ is supposed to be all natural and starts breaks down the poo to compost easier. You should be able to get it in OR as we have it in WA.

It is not the same stuff as for pool filters.

 

[AussieSharon]

I'm pretty sure my bag of dry stall had a picture of poultry right on the front of the bag

 

[LynneP]

Stall Dri
Stable Boy and
DE (diatomaceous earth)

are natural and excellent products!

 

[rubysmom]

Thanks everyone!
I haven't been able to find the Sweet PDZ? What is it made of ?

I just remember hearing some discussion about food grade DE and the pool kind. The farm store guy laughed at me and said there was no difference and that regular DE was fine for poultry? Seemed contrary to what I've been hearing on this list.

We only have 5 chickens, more like pets than anything, and kids that are constantly holding birds and playing in coops and runs so we want to be extra safe . The more natural the better.

So the dry stall and sweet PDZ are okay to eat?

 

[ebonykawai]

Stall Dry is only made up of DE and clay. That's it. Nothing is added to make it smell good, it smells that way naturally. If chickens can eat sand/dirt/poop/etc., I'm sure DE and clay is fine.

 

[curliet]

I've been following the posts dealing with Stall Dry, DE and hydrated lime and looking up online the various things. Here where I live, there is no DE available anywhere. I really wanted it, because so many of you recommended it. But after 2 days of calls and web searches, a person at a nearby grain mill told me that she, and most people she knows, do use the ag hydrated lime for their animals bedding and litter. Her company sells it for $7.00 for a 50# bag. Acording to what I'm reading, here in this forum, and online, this is my next best choice after DE. So it's what I'll get. Just want to thank y'all for making so much info available.