Using Sweet PDZ, how does it work?? HELP!!

[EasterChickens]

Mine will dust bathe in it like it's an illicit drug, no matter how little I put in, so I embraced it - I have hens that stalk me while I clean and have learned to dust the lower boards first. The second the PDZ (i use powder, they hate the granules and in my climate it doesn't work as well) hits the board ... it's PDZ addicts fighting for every inch of the board. Yes, they have tons of other dust bathing areas.

Hello, Shezadandy, thanks for your reply! Good for you that powder works great for you even though most say its not as good!! Maybe they dust bath because its texture is more dusty like dirt?!

 

[EasterChickens]

I've not really thought of how long in between putting fresh down. But, its definitely weeks. As well, I clean out the coop twice a yr - removing anything not nailed down to wipe it and look for anything that needs replacing.

Thank you for the information! I will definitely try doing that.

 

[DobieLover]

After the routine scooping. I would normally just smooth out the PDZ at this point and call it done.

The scoops:
Routine cleaning scoop on the left.
Super scoop with kitchen sieve attached to it on the right.

After super scooping:

After sprinkling on fresh PDZ and the container I use to scoop it out of the bag. I added three scoops to the boards.

And one of my goof ball roosters who is utterly obsessed with all things involving egg laying from fertilization services to nests to singing along with the girls. (I couldn't help adding this in as he was cracking me up while I was working!)

 

[EasterChickens]

After the routine scooping. I would normally just smooth out the PDZ at this point and call it done.
View attachment 2769482
View attachment 2769480

The scoops:
Routine cleaning scoop on the left.
Super scoop with kitchen sieve attached to it on the right.
View attachment 2769485

After super scooping:View attachment 2769458
View attachment 2769455

View attachment 2769454After sprinkling on fresh PDZ and the container I use to scoop it out of the bag. I added three scoops to the boards.
View attachment 2769465View attachment 2769468

And one of my goof ball roosters who is utterly obsessed with all things involving egg laying from fertilization services to nests to singing along with the girls. (I couldn't help adding this in as he was cracking me up while I was working!)
View attachment 2769503

Thats so cute and funny!!! Thank you for all the useful pictures and information that was so necessary. I will do everything you did!

 

[GE OBrien]

I sort of do what Dobie Lover does. I rake up the Poo with a Horse poo shovel with a fine screen on it. Then smooth out the sand and PDZ horse mixture under the 1 inch dowels for roosts . I have gravel in the bottom of the coop. No perches or poo boards to clean.

 

[Shezadandy]

Hello, Shezadandy, thanks for your reply! Good for you that powder works great for you even though most say its not as good!! Maybe they dust bath because its texture is more dusty like dirt?!

It all started with one hen, Harriet. And then it became a thing, and is now a mob scene. They've got huge outdoor dust bathing areas, and the floor material is also something they love to bathe in. I find the granules too clumpy where I am - having tried both (because the granules are less dusty) - powder just works better here for whatever reason.

 

[aart]

I completely sieve all the granular PDZ daily, it's <1/4" deep.
Then level it all back out.
Takes about 10 minutes.
Have to add some PDZ probably once a week.

Here's some posts about it, they're kind of old, but changes are noted.
...and the threads these posts are in has a ton of examples of poop boards.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...s-poop-pictures.621363/page-111#post-13179595
Updates:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...s-poop-pictures.621363/page-178#post-18966048

https://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/1/...ch-x-9-inch-mesh-drawer-organizer-silver.html

 

[Krugerrand]

My coop is a little bigger than that. I use sweet pdz to cover the entire floor. The entire floor is a poop board! The nest boxes are still blocked and will get pine shavings. I had about 1.5" on the floor and after 2 months, it is looking like it could use some more. It gets scoped daily.

 

[DobieLover]

My coop is a little bigger than that. I use sweet pdz to cover the entire floor. The entire floor is a poop board! The nest boxes are still blocked and will get pine shavings. I had about 1.5" on the floor and after 2 months, it is looking like it could use some more. It gets scoped daily.


View attachment 2771005
View attachment 2771007

When you unblock the nest boxes your poop floor will then be a nice mixture of PDZ and pine shavings.

 

[Krugerrand]

When you unblock the nest boxes your poop floor will then be a nice mixture of PDZ and pine shavings.

yes, but I'm expecting a good percentage of the pine shavings to get scooped out with the daily scoopings.