Will hardened PDZs recover or replace now?

[SnootyHen]

I use PDZ in my coop and run. Over the winter, the PDZ in the run has frozen and thawed and blended with poop and straw and everything else imaginable and frozen that way. It's starting to thaw and as I break up the hard surface, there's some seriously smelly and funny colored PDZ under it. There's also wet straw and poop mixed in. I scoop and clean as much as I can int he winter but sometimes it freezes before I can get it and sometimes when things melt, the water mixes with it and it's not solid enough to scoop anymore. Will it dry out and be okay with a layer of clean on top or should I dig up as much as I can and just replace it all now?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

When it dries, the chickens will probably scratch it up.
The wet stuff under the hardened area may end up being even smellier. It may be a good idea to pull some of the wettest out.
There is a good product from Gro2Max called Farm360 that should solve the smell issue by adding good bacteria. Getting oxygen to the smelly stuff will kill the anaerobic bacteria that causes most of the smell.
https://gro2max.com/farm360/
It can eliminate odors and cut down on flies.

 

[SnootyHen]

When it dries, the chickens will probably scratch it up.
The wet stuff under the hardened area may end up being even smellier. It may be a good idea to pull some of the wettest out.
There is a good product from Gro2Max called Farm360 that should solve the smell issue by adding good bacteria. Getting oxygen to the smelly stuff will kill the anaerobic bacteria that causes most of the smell.
https://gro2max.com/farm360/
It can eliminate odors and cut down on flies.

Thank you!!! That sounds like exactly what I need! It's pretty vile smelling. And since the run is still tarped over for winter, it's not airing out as much as I would if I could open it up all the way. Once I broke the surface, they definitely helped getting it broken up, but boy the under side is "unpleasant."

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Thank you!!! That sounds like exactly what I need! It's pretty vile smelling. And since the run is still tarped over for winter, it's not airing out as much as I would if I could open it up all the way. Once I broke the surface, they definitely helped getting it broken up, but boy the under side is "unpleasant."

I know what you mean. When the top of the compost piles get to be hard pack, it is bad when I try to turn it.
Once it gets opened to the air and dries a bit it is almost unnoticeable.

 

[aart]

Hardened PDZ will be fine, it's the straw that's the problem.
Might want to change your run bedding ingredients.
Coarse wood chippings work well here.

 

[SnootyHen]

Hardened PDZ will be fine, it's the straw that's the problem.
Might want to change your run bedding ingredients.
Coarse wood chippings work well here.

How do wood chippings work to handle snow/mud? I usually just throw down straw when it's soppy and gross and I want to give them something dry to walk on. But it's a huge pain in the butt to clean and I try to minimize using it. Will wood chippings do that? And smell less?

 

[aart]

How do wood chippings work to handle snow/mud? I usually just throw down straw when it's soppy and gross and I want to give them something dry to walk on. But it's a huge pain in the butt to clean and I try to minimize using it. Will wood chippings do that? And smell less?

I make sure I replenish the wood chippings in fall if needed.
If things gets real mucky during winter thaws, I spread some pine shavings around.
They don't need dry to walk on....but my run is uncovered.

 

[SnootyHen]

I make sure I replenish the wood chippings in fall if needed.
If things gets real mucky during winter thaws, I spread some pine shavings around.
They don't need dry to walk on....but my run is uncovered.

Mine is covered but the roof will leak in a heavy downpour which creates nasty problems. I get muddy lakes. I re-graded the run and replaced the roof a year ago and the grading has helped immensely with getting the water out sooner, but the problem I still have is the roof still leaks -- less than before but still some. And when the rain comes in sideways or the heavy snow starts to melt, it's just disgusting. I sometimes add straw in the coop for warmth but that's much easier to pick up because it stays dry. The outside stuff gets nasty! I try to get as much of it up as I can but when it mixes and freezes, there's always some left. Sounds like the chips will be a better option for next winter to avoid this. Thanks!!

 

[aart]

Mine is covered but the roof will leak in a heavy downpour which creates nasty problems. I get muddy lakes. I re-graded the run and replaced the roof a year ago and the grading has helped immensely with getting the water out sooner, but the problem I still have is the roof still leaks -- less than before but still some. And when the rain comes in sideways or the heavy snow starts to melt, it's just disgusting. I sometimes add straw in the coop for warmth but that's much easier to pick up because it stays dry. The outside stuff gets nasty! I try to get as much of it up as I can but when it mixes and freezes, there's always some left. Sounds like the chips will be a better option for next winter to avoid this. Thanks!!

Got pics of your run and the surrounding area?
You need to fix the leaks and anywhere water is running into the run.

They don't need "warmth" and straw will get nasty as you've discovered.

 

[SnootyHen]

Got pics of your run and the surrounding area?
You need to fix the leaks and anywhere water is running into the run.

They don't need "warmth" and straw will get nasty as you've discovered.

The straw in the coop has never been a problem. I pop some in when it gets below zero and pull it out when it gets a little warmer. Since the inside is completely dry, it doesn't get stinky. It's the outside stuff that gets gross.

Yes, I know I need to fix the run roof. I thought I did last spring but it sprung a new leak. Couldn't do anything about it but tarp it until the weather clears up enough to take another crack at it. Considering it snowed again today, I'm not sure when that will be but hopefully not too much longer. But that's not on today's to-do list. I am just wondering if I need to remove the old stinky PDZs and got my answer. Thanks!