Can I use pine needles for bedding in my 3 week old ducklings brooder?

[kilmon88]

I have plenty of pine needles and I'm tired of buying pine shavings that they just get all wet. Can I use pine needles instead of shavings?

 

[CHchickie86]

I personally wouldn't. Unfortunately, your brooder is not going to be 100% dry with duckling regardless of what bedding you choose. In both my chick and duck pens I use ABM wood pellets, which were originally designed for horse stalls. I also use them in my rabbit's litter box. Ducks = wet.

 

[HollyDuckFarmer]

If you remove the water from the bedding area, that can help. I think mine were older than 3wks old when I did that tho. I use pine needles a lot, especially as the very 1st layer atop my barn's concrete floor, followed by deep straw litter. Works beautifully. I only use the pellets when I get a water problem.

 

[Amiga]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/641902/created-a-water-saver-for-my-duck-brooder

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/679433/water-water-everywhere/10

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/858161/feed-water-solution-for-brooder#post_12901321

http://frankiemakes.blogspot.ca/2012/06/watering-solution-for-ducks.html

Sharing

 

[TLWR]

They are still going to get wet, but yes, you could use them.
I use towels. Now that my 2 are 5 weeks old, they get a towel big enough to sleep on and the rest is the concrete or wood of the patio.

The big ducks get pine straw in their nest box.

 

[jwilke]

I'm considering using pine needles for bedding.. I have two ducks in a 10x10 pen with a dog house in it. I barely ever see them go in the dog house, but, I guess they do, cause I see duck tracks in there. I don't have a water problem in there, in fact it stays reasonably dry. I keep two kiddie pools that I have dug in for them and I see them sleep there most of the time, or, right in the middle of the pen. Is there anything I can do to encourage them to go in the dog house? It is deff big enough for both of them and it is free of any nails or anything that may hurt them.

 

[chickens really]

I'm considering using pine needles for bedding.. I have two ducks in a 10x10 pen with a dog house in it. I barely ever see them go in the dog house, but, I guess they do, cause I see duck tracks in there. I don't have a water problem in there, in fact it stays reasonably dry. I keep two kiddie pools that I have dug in for them and I see them sleep there most of the time, or, right in the middle of the pen. Is there anything I can do to encourage them to go in the dog house? It is deff big enough for both of them and it is free of any nails or anything that may hurt them.

Pine shavings and train them to use it...