PDZ Flooring instead of Bedding?

[628990]

Hey y’all!

So, the way my henhouse is built, I cannot put in a poo board.

Therefore I would sprinkle PDZ on the henhouse floor, and then cover with chopped straw.

After a while of reading others’ posts and discussions about PDZ, I began to think about getting rid of the chopped straw on my henhouse floor, and put a thick layer of PDZ on the floor of the henhouse? Then I can just scoop the poo every morning, from the previous night, and not have to sweep out the straw. Also, my hens won’t scratch around in the straw flooring of the henhouse.

What are the pros and cons of using this ‘litter box’ approach to make my daily maintenance easier and eliminate my hens scratching around in the henhouse floor?

 

[aart]

Some do that.
How big is your coop floor?
Can you reach all corners to scoop?
Is floor tight so PDZ doesn't sift thru cracks?

Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!

 

[Alaskan]

Some do that.
How big is your coop floor?
Can you reach all corners to scoop?
Is floor tight so PDZ doesn't sift thru cracks?

Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!
View attachment 2892231

X2

 

[K0k0shka]

Depends on how much you are willing to do in terms of maintenance. If you want to scoop every day, then go for it. I don’t. I use the dry deep bedding method with pine shavings and no poop board, and only clean my coop twice a year. Works great for me!

 

[ChickNanny13]

Love the poop board, scooped every day. Then I decided I "quit" chickens and disassembled the poop board and the roost and my NB set up.

Learned something, I may "quit" chickens but NEVER disassemble anything for at least a couple years. I improvised my NB set up and added a roost but not the poop board. But then again the majority of pooping is at night when they're roosting.

I do a modified DLM; ground is dirt with a thick layer of pine shavings that I keep adding to and rarely remove, maybe once a year. I only have 3 hens in a 8 x 12 x7 Chicken House. I just pick up the big stuff with a long handled tong under the roost daily, it's our bonding time. I tried a thick layer of PDZ but they ate enough that their poop was white so not doing that anymore.

I do ferment their feed and have never and any issues with smell nor flies. I smell the neighbors dogs and my neighbors behind me got no idea I have chickens ... I live in a residential community.

 

[Happy chicky babies]

Hey y’all!

So, the way my henhouse is built, I cannot put in a poo board.

Therefore I would sprinkle PDZ on the henhouse floor, and then cover with chopped straw.

After a while of reading others’ posts and discussions about PDZ, I began to think about getting rid of the chopped straw on my henhouse floor, and put a thick layer of PDZ on the floor of the henhouse? Then I can just scoop the poo every morning, from the previous night, and not have to sweep out the straw. Also, my hens won’t scratch around in the straw flooringof the henhouse.

What are the pros and cons of using this ‘litter box’ approach to make my daily maintenance easier and eliminate my hens scratching around in the henhouse floor?

I love PDZ in the tray in my coop. I just scoop it out every day. So much easier. I have hay in the nesting boxes

 

[Krugerrand]

I have an apx 3x5 coop for 3 hens. I do all pdz flooring in my coop and scoop (mostly) daily. It works great for me. I keep a lidded bucket beside the coop and as that fills it gets dumped in the compost pile.

Too many chickens or too big a coop make that impractical.

I am considering mixing some of the coffee grounds litter in with it as it looks to be cheaper, would be good for the compost, and add some good scents to the mix. But, my TSC is always out of stock.

I use pine chips in the nesting boxes.

 

[Shezadandy]

I would worry about using pdz on the floor if you are in a wet environment especially. Works great for poop boards but once it's wet (like from wet feathers and wet feet) - no good. Mine LOVE to dust bathe in it.