Natural Poultry Bedding for Ammonia Control, Cleaner Eggs & Improved Litter Quality
Chicken coop ammonia build-up is one of the most common challenges in both backyard poultry keeping and commercial egg production systems. Excess moisture in poultry litter leads to ammonia release, which can affect bird comfort, housing air quality, and overall flock performance.
This poultry bedding ammonia control system combines attapulgite clay and diatomaceous earth (DE) to improve litter dryness and support a healthier poultry housing environment.
By reducing excess moisture in chicken coops and nesting areas, this mineral bedding blend helps create more stable litter conditions, supporting improved hygiene, reduced odour, and cleaner egg production outcomes.
Attapulgite Clay & Diatomaceous Earth Poultry Bedding Blend
The attapulgite clay and diatomaceous earth poultry bedding blend is used in chicken coops and egg production systems to improve litter conditions and reduce environmental stressors such as moisture and ammonia.
This combination supports:
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Reduced moisture in poultry litter
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Improved ammonia control in chicken sheds
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Better air quality in enclosed poultry housing
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Cleaner nesting boxes and eggs
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Improved overall coop hygiene
This makes it suitable for:
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Backyard chickens
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Free-range laying hens
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Commercial egg farms
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Deep litter poultry systems
Ammonia Reduction in Chicken Coops and Poultry Houses
Ammonia is produced when poultry manure breaks down under warm and moist conditions. In poultry housing, high ammonia levels can negatively impact:
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Respiratory health of chickens
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Egg production performance
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Feed efficiency
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Overall flock welfare
How this mineral blend helps:
The attapulgite clay and diatomaceous earth blend reduces litter moisture content, which helps limit the conditions that drive ammonia formation.
Lower moisture levels = reduced ammonia volatilisation = improved poultry housing environment.
Attapulgite Clay in Poultry Bedding Systems
Attapulgite clay (palygorskite) is a naturally occurring hydrated magnesium aluminium silicate with a fibrous structure and high adsorption capacity.
Key properties:
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High moisture adsorption
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Strong ammonium binding capacity
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High surface area and porosity
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Stable performance in litter environments
Function in poultry systems:
Attapulgite clay works as a litter conditioning material, helping to reduce wet manure build-up and stabilise ammonia-related compounds in poultry bedding systems.
Diatomaceous Earth (DE) in Poultry Bedding
Diatomaceous earth is a naturally occurring amorphous silica derived from fossilised diatoms.
Key properties
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High porosity and surface area
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Strong moisture absorption capacity
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Dry, abrasive microstructure
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Stable in poultry litter systems
Function in poultry systems:
DE helps maintain dry litter conditions in chicken coops and nesting boxes, supporting improved bedding hygiene and reduced moisture retention.
Under dry conditions, DE is also used in poultry environments as part of general litter and pest management systems.
Cleaner Eggs and Improved Egg Production Conditions
Litter quality directly affects egg cleanliness and laying performance in poultry systems.
Improved bedding conditions can support:
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Cleaner eggs at point of lay
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Reduced faecal contamination in nesting boxes
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Lower egg washing requirements in commercial systems
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Improved nesting hygiene for backyard chickens
Drier litter environments are consistently associated with improved egg hygiene outcomes in poultry production systems.
Poultry Bedding Solution for Backyard Chickens and Egg Farms
This mineral bedding system is suitable for:
✔ Backyard chicken coops
✔ Free-range egg production
✔ Commercial poultry sheds
✔ Broiler housing systems
✔ Deep litter bedding systems
Key benefits:
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Ammonia reduction in poultry housing
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Improved coop air quality
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Reduced odour in chicken sheds
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Cleaner eggs and nesting boxes
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Improved litter dryness and hygiene
How to Use Attapulgite Clay & Diatomaceous Earth in Poultry Bedding
The mineral blend can be applied directly into poultry litter systems.
Common applications:
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Chicken coop flooring
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Nesting boxes
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Deep litter bedding systems
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Brooder areas for chicks
Recommended approach:
Mix evenly into existing bedding materials such as straw, wood shavings, or rice hulls to improve litter performance and moisture control.
Regular litter maintenance enhances long-term effectiveness.
Safe Use in Poultry Systems
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Avoid inhaling fine DE dust during application
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Use in well-ventilated poultry housing areas
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Maintain access to clean drinking water for birds
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Follow good litter management and cleaning practices
Natural Poultry Bedding for Ammonia Reduction and Cleaner Egg Production
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The attapulgite clay and diatomaceous earth poultry bedding blend provides a natural, mineral-based approach to improving poultry litter conditions.
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It supports:
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Ammonia reduction in chicken coops
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Improved poultry housing hygiene
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Cleaner egg production systems
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Reduced odour and moisture build-up
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Better overall flock environment
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This makes it highly suitable for poultry farmers, egg producers, and backyard chicken keepers seeking natural litter management solutions.
Poultry Bedding FAQs – Ammonia Control, Odour & Egg Hygiene
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❓ What is poultry ammonia control bedding?
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Poultry ammonia control bedding is designed to reduce moisture and ammonia build-up in chicken coops and poultry housing. Materials like attapulgite clay and diatomaceous earth help improve litter dryness and reduce odour levels.
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❓ How does ammonia build up in chicken coops?
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Ammonia forms when poultry manure breaks down under warm, moist conditions. Poor ventilation and wet litter increase ammonia levels, which can negatively affect bird health and egg production performance.
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❓ How do you reduce ammonia in a chicken coop naturally?
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Ammonia can be reduced by improving litter dryness using highly absorbent bedding materials, increasing ventilation, and regularly maintaining coop hygiene. Mineral-based bedding such as clay and diatomaceous earth can assist in moisture control.
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❓ Does diatomaceous earth help with chicken coop smell?
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Diatomaceous earth can help reduce moisture in poultry bedding, which indirectly reduces odour caused by ammonia build-up. It works best as part of a broader litter management system.
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❓ Is this bedding suitable for egg production systems?
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Yes. Improved litter quality supports cleaner nesting conditions, which can improve egg cleanliness and reduce contamination risk in both backyard and commercial egg production systems.
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❓ Can this be used in backyard chicken coops?
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Yes. It is suitable for backyard chicken keepers looking to reduce odour, improve coop hygiene, and maintain drier litter conditions.
Related Mineral Resources
Hudson supplies Attapulgite clay & Diatomaceous earth raw ore.
The market for processed & milled Attapulgite clay & calcined food grade Diatomaceous earth natural product solutions is growing as more and more individuals and corporates seek effective natural product solutions.
Contact us for wholesale bulk raw ore for trials or supply interest.
How does it work?
Guidance re adding Diatomaceous earth to poultry feed
Diatomaceous earth (DE) (fossil shell flour) is rich in silica, which is essential for maintaining poultry health of chicken or turkey's digestive system, including the stomach and intestines. It also helps to flush out harmful toxins and parasites, promoting overall digestive health.
Diatomaceous earth (DE) (fossil shell flour) does not have a withholding period (unlike chemical fly, lice and flea control.) On contact with Diatomaceous earth (DE), their fine micro shards, together with Diatomaceous earth (DE) being porous, deters and dehydrates flies, lice and fleas.
Silica has been shown to improve the strength of the immune system, making it easier for the body to fight off infections and illnesses.
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It is recommended to add Diatomaceous earth (DE) (fossil shell flour) to chicks that are eating solid feeds.
Care must be taken to avoid breathing the powder and a face mask should be worn when dusting or using Diatomaceous earth (fossil shell flour) powder.
As Diatomaceous earth (fossil shell flour) is a natural absorbent, it is important that chickens and turkeys have access to lots of water to avoid dehydration and ensure moisture in the digestive system is not affected.
As a guide, add approximately 2% of the weight of your chicken’s and turkey’s feed that they receive (either in addition to or instead of foraging).
If for example, each chicken or turkey might eat 150 grams dry pellets, the Diatomaceous earth (DE) to be added would be 2% of 150 grams which is 3 grams per portion.
When mixing Diatomaceous Earth (fossil shell flour) into dry feed, ensure that the Diatomaceous earth (DE) (fossil shell flour) is evenly spread. An added benefit is that insects including ants and weevils that can get into the feed are deterred. This is because Diatomaceous earth (DE) (fossil shell flour) acts as a natural preservative, absorbing moisture and keeping the feed fresher for longer.
Attapulgite clay and Diatomaceous earth (DE) (fossil shell flour) is also utilised in Animal Health
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