Have you heard of this with Pine Pellets

[kc261]

Yes, it really does amazing thing about keeping the odor down. Plus, it isn't as expensive as it seems because you only have to use a very small amount.

[LarryPetty]

Yes, it really does amazing thing about keeping the odor down. Plus, it isn't as expensive as it seems because you only have to use a very small amount.

Do you know how many cement tubs you can fill with one bag?

[stangs13]

Do you know how many cement tubs you can fill with one bag?

Just use enough to barely cover the bottom.

[Rapture]

I lied. I am replying one more time.

I will continue to spray a light mist of water on the pellets any time I use them in the future because it worked. There was little to no airborn dust, and it took a LOT longer to stink then normal. Didn't make sense to me either how it worked... so I emailed the manufacturer.

Here is my email:

COMMENTS: Hello,

Have a question for you. Not sure if you are aware of this but a large
number of my peers are using your equine fresh pine pelletts for pet /
breeding rats. It is a superior prodect to keep smell down, and works quite
well all around. Normally it is just dumped into the tank or tub and used
as is without adding any water.

Recently I noticed that the bag gave directions to apply a fine mist of
water to the pellets once it is laid. Just to experiment I did this with my
rats. I put just enough pellets down to cover the bottom of the tank and
then sprayed it for about a second with a fine mist. The pellets swelled up
a litte, then ultimately became totally dry again.

While misting did break the pellets down a littleI noticed that after heavy
use there is little to no airborn dust from the pelletts. It also somehow
has kept the smell down even more compared to laying down without the
misting.

My question is, why am I experiencing these results? Anyone who uses pine
pellets knows as soon as they get peed on they break down into the saw dust.
Why would misting with water prior to use end up lowering the amount of
airborn dust when the slight misting seems to add no lasting humidity to the
pine?


Mike Cavanaugh


Here is the Response:

Hi Michael,

Thank you for the email. It would seem to me that your methods and results
are great for your desired outcome.

On a microscopic level, I can speculate the following : By applying a fine
mist of water to the product, the pellet surface swells (or becomes rough) .
This surface swelling is the wood fiber bundles absorbing the small amount
of water thus the appearance of the product drying out. By
opening up the fiber bundles in this way, as the animal urinates the product
will absorb faster due to the greater surface area of the pellet from the
swelling process. Plus the pellet will have a higher moisture content which
will also result in faster moisture absorption because water molecules have
a high molecular attraction for one another.

When you absorb the urine quickly it has little time to grow the bacteria
that cause the odor thus giving better odor control and as well keeps the
dust to a minimum.

I am mailing out some coupons for the time you took to email - thank you again!

Cindee Kohagen
PlanetWise Products

Interesting explanation... still look forward to trying this product but not sure when I'll get to!

[stangs13]

Interesting explanation... still look forward to trying this product but not sure when I'll get to!

you should like come in tommarow. We has powas, and lots of pelleted shavings!!

[Rapture]

LOL I'll try...

[stangs13]

LOL I'll try...

I will be doing nothing but unloading feed and NEW shavings, maybe you will be the first customer for the the new pine pellets9 they are better than the old ones, and that is saying alot.

[Rapture]

Well I am not working tomorrow so I should have time to go down there... we'll see how it goes.

[stangs13]

Well I am not working tomorrow so I should have time to go down there... we'll see how it goes.

hokay.

[whytepizza]

Yesterday's news works wonders. Doesn't remove the smell as much as Pine but it doesn't have as much dust, kind of just turns into soggy newspaper and then dries. I like it, but some people hate it.