Dry Den Highly Absorbent Animal Bedding - 40 lb

Dry Den Animal Bedding consists of 1000s of compressed wood pellets made from 100% natural wood that is soft, absorbent, and fresh smelling. The pellets arrive in a compact, easy to handle bag and expand into a deep, fluffy bed once they are exposed to moisture from animal traffic, urine, or a light watering.

What separates Dry Den from ordinary pellet bedding is the addition of food grade zeolites. These naturally occurring minerals capture and neutralize the ammonia produced by urine, which is the primary source of stall odor and respiratory irritation. The result is a cleaner, drier, healthier bed that takes less labor to maintain and less money to keep up over the course of a year.

Zeolites are naturally occurring minerals with a porous crystalline structure that acts like a molecular sponge. In bedding, they target the ammonium ions released as urine breaks down.

• Ammonium ions are removed by means of ion exchange, which chemically neutralizes them rather than covering them up
• At higher concentrations, the zeolites also absorb ammonia directly into their structure
• Neutralizing ammonia keeps the stall air cleaner and the bedding drier for better animal health
• Captured ammonia is converted into slow-release nitrogen, which becomes a benefit once the bedding reaches your compost pile or field

Only Dry Den contains these odor-eating zeolites, so it delivers odor control that plain wood pellet bedding cannot match.

1. Add approximately 5 bags of Dry Den to a 12 x 12 stall. The pellets will begin to expand as your animals walk and urinate, or you can water lightly to start the process sooner. In a day or so there will be an ample amount of fluffy bedding for your horse.
2. Pick out manure daily. The pellets fall away easily from the manure, and any wet spots should be mixed into the dry bedding. The zeolites in Dry Den will soak up the urine and eliminate the odors.
3. Once the pellets have reached full volume and have stopped expanding, in about 1 week, begin to shovel out the most saturated spots. Adding a new bag per week will keep your stall fresh.
4. Depending on the horses and drainage, most stalls need to be stripped only monthly in wet climates, and every 6 to 8 weeks in dry areas.
5. Plan on approximately 8 to 10 bags per month to keep each stall healthy and comfortable.

Actual usage varies with the number of horses, stall drainage, ventilation, and how much time your animals spend indoors.

Dry Den can absorb over 18 gallons of urine or other liquid per bag, which is far more than an equivalent volume of traditional shavings. That high capacity is what allows you to spot clean instead of stripping the stall every few days.

You can verify the absorbency at home with a simple test. Place a handful of Dry Den pellets in a cup and fill the cup half full of water. Within minutes, the water will be completely absorbed and the pellets will have expanded into soft, fluffy bedding.

Ammonia is the compound responsible for the sharp smell in a poorly maintained stall, and it is also an irritant to the eyes and airways of both animals and people. Because the zeolites in Dry Den neutralize and absorb ammonia at the source, odors are eliminated rather than masked with fragrance.

• Cleaner stall air supports better respiratory health for horses and other livestock
• Without waste odors, your stalls will not attract flies the way damp, ammonia-heavy bedding does
• Fresh-smelling wood adds a clean scent to the barn without added perfumes
• Drier bedding reduces the moist conditions that encourage bacteria and hoof problems

Thanks to its natural absorbency and odor control, Dry Den is ideal for nearly every type of animal that needs clean, dry bedding.

• Horses, ponies, mules, and donkeys in stalls, shelters, and trailers
• Sheep, goats, and pigs in pens and barn stalls
• Poultry in coops and nesting areas
• Small animals including rabbits, hamsters, and gerbils
• Kennels, whelping areas, and other enclosures that need a dry, low-odor floor

Cleanup is one of the biggest advantages of Dry Den. Manure separates easily from the pellets, so daily pick out goes quickly and you remove far less usable bedding along with the waste.

• Used bedding breaks down into moist, fine sawdust that composts readily
• The particle size is fine enough to be field broadcast directly onto pasture or crop ground
• Zeolites convert the ammonia in urine into slow-release nitrogen, adding fertilizer value for soil amendment and plant growth
• Total waste volume is much lower than with shavings, which means fewer trips to the manure pile

Always follow local guidelines for manure and bedding management, and allow compost to finish before applying it around edible crops.

You will find Dry Den much easier to use in many ways. It is easier to store, easier to clean, easier to maintain, and much easier to dispose of, so you can provide a healthier stall while taking up less of your time and less of your money.

Dry Den ships as compressed pellets and needs moisture to open up into bedding. You have two easy options.

• Let the animals do the work. Normal traffic and urination will begin the expansion process, with ample fluffy bedding in a day or so
• Water lightly to speed things up. A light misting over the spread pellets starts expansion sooner, which is helpful when a stall is needed right away

Expansion continues for roughly one week until the pellets reach full volume. Wait until that point before beginning your regular routine of shoveling out the most saturated spots.

• Store bags in a dry place, off the ground and protected from rain and irrigation overspray
• Keep unopened bags sealed until you are ready to bed a stall, since the pellets begin expanding once they take on moisture
• Stack bags in a barn, tack room, or shed where they stay out of direct weather
• Bags are compact and easy to carry, so a full month of bedding for one stall stores in a modest amount of space

Zeolites are naturally occurring minerals that are used in many food products. Dry Den uses only food grade zeolites that are safe for all animals, and their unique ability to neutralize and absorb the ammonia found in urine is what enhances the pellets ability to absorb liquids and eliminate odors.

• Made from 100% natural wood with no added perfumes to mask odors
• Safe for horses, livestock, poultry, and small animals when used as directed
• Spread bedding in a well ventilated space and allow fine dust to settle before closing up a stall
• Keep bags stored in a dry place away from children and animals

How does Dry Den compare to shavings?

You will find Dry Den to be much easier to use in many ways. It is easier to store, easier to clean, easier to maintain, and much easier to dispose of. Dry Den will also soak up a lot more urine. The bottom line is that you can provide a healthier stall while taking up less of your time and less of your money.

How much urine or other liquid can Dry Den absorb?

Dry Den can absorb over 18 gallons per bag. See for yourself by placing a handful of Dry Den in a cup and filling it half full of water. Within minutes, the water will be absorbed.

What are zeolites, and are they really safe?

Zeolites are naturally occurring minerals that are used in many food products. Dry Den uses only food grade zeolites that are safe for all animals. These zeolites have a unique ability to neutralize and absorb the ammonia found in urine, which enhances the ability of the pellets to absorb liquids and eliminate odors.

Is Dry Den different than other wood pellet beddings?

Yes. Only Dry Den contains zeolites that can neutralize and absorb ammonia from animal urine. This eliminates unwanted odors and creates cleaner, healthier, drier animal beds. Dry Den also uses only clean, fresh-smelling woods in its pellets. Without zeolites, other wood pellets cannot offer the many advantages of Dry Den.

Can I use Dry Den for my other animals?

Due to its natural absorbency and odor control, Dry Den is ideal for most all animal types. Use Dry Den as bedding for sheep, pigs, goats, and even small animals like rabbits, hamsters, and gerbils.

How many bags do I need to get started?

Plan on about 5 bags for a standard 12 x 12 stall, then add a bag per week to keep the bedding fresh. Most stalls use approximately 8 to 10 bags per month.