Bedding for coop (Ducks and Chickens)

[jennyman]

Hello All!

What kind of coop bedding do you use for ducks and chickens? I have read straw but others have said litter for chickens? I am not sure which is best. (I am aware of the arguments against ducks and chickens housing together.) Thank you!

 

[Miss Lydia]

My ducks an chickens house together with no problems at all I use deep bedding and it’s shavings easy to scoop out wet spots fluff and add as needed

 

[Gray Farms]

Pine shavings. I prefer fine shavings, it scoops out easier "doesn't clump up". I strongly recommend against straw in a coop. It retains moisture and promotes mold growth.

 

[Going Quackers]

Shavings are good, i do use leftover hay for many of my smaller buildings but if your mixing with chickens, shavings would be preferred my chickens love to dust bathe in them lol.

 

[TomCahalan]

Crumbled corn cobs, called "better bedding". Costs three times as much as shavings, but I find that they last longer. They are easier to rake out, and they don't come with all the dust that shavings do.

 

[Isaac 0]

What bedding material works for you greatly depends on your climate and setup. I can get straw around here for a few bucks a bale, which is great because I have many birds in my coop that I need to clean the coop quite often, If I were to use shaving's I'd be spending a fortune. If you provide plenty of air circulation in your coop, sunlight, keep it dry, and clean it often your not going to have any problems with straw. See what works best for you.

 

[Texag87]

We are having a hard time getting straw right now and coastal is a poor substitute. If I don’t find any tomorrow, I am going to order some industrial hemp. It’s pricy but is supposed to last four times as long as other bedding.

 

[Duck mommy 2019]

Hello All!

What kind of coop bedding do you use for ducks and chickens? I have read straw but others have said litter for chickens? I am not sure which is best. (I am aware of the arguments against ducks and chickens housing together.) Thank you!

i use shavings for adults, and blankets for babies

 

[3bird]

In our 4'x8' elevated duckhouse, we start with a few bags of shavings and then add a layer of straw. We then spot clean daily and add new straw as needed. We let it build up over the winter (deep litter method), and then we clean out in the early summer (although we have not yet this year, as we have a couple ducks sitting on eggs in the duckhouse). In the attached and covered run, we have about a quarter of it as pavers (where their water goes), and the rest is straw. This video is mid-winter:

 

[a320727]

i use shavings for adults, and blankets for babies

When you say shavings what are you referring to pine shavings? I have been told using rice straw is really bad for mites so now I'm really confused. I have ducks, chickens, and guineas so not sure what to use. I clean rice straw daily but I know it doesn't absorb moisture. I have baby chicks, and 2, 3, 4 and 5 month old chicks. What is best for them?