Best bedding for duck coop?

[GracePoultry]

Hi!! I have a few questions regarding what will and won't work in a duck coop.
I have 4 ducklings, that will be moving out to their coop an about a month.

I've heard the deep layer method does not work with ducks. I use pine shavings for my chickens. is that a good bedding for ducks? or should I use something else? How often should I clean it out? thanks! : )

 

[DoodlesDuckies]

I think it really depends on your set up and your climate. What works for me may not work for others. I am located in north central WI and get temps down to -30 in winters.

This is what I have, I did close up the run with plywood this past winter and it worked great. I stacked straw bales inside and used straw-deep litter method. On some warm days in Dec I cleaned it all out and started over. In January/Feb is was a little rough with the snow and -30 temps. Straw was about 6-8" deep and was a b$tch to clean out last weekend. But it kept them out of the wind and warm. They get let out during the day.

In warmer months I have deep gravel in the run and a pool. Inside the little shelter to the left I have pine shavings from TS. When dry, they run around the 5 acre yard. I clean about once a week. I do not put their water/food or pool in their hut in winter. During summer with the gravel it isn't so bad. It all drains right away and they have an area with fake grass-drains well.

In short...I use pine shavings and straw.

Renee

 

[cheezenkwackers]

I use pine shavings and deep litter in my run. My duck do free-range in my garden during the day so it dries out some. I remove the wettest bedding around the water dishes about once a week and put horse pellet bedding down around that area. I also have pine shavings in their house area. I use the old shavings from there in the run (after removing the poopy clumps).

 

[DailyDuckDrama]

Hi!! I have a few questions regarding what will and won't work in a duck coop.
I have 4 ducklings, that will be moving out to their coop an about a month.

I've heard the deep layer method does not work with ducks. I use pine shavings for my chickens. is that a good bedding for ducks? or should I use something else? How often should I clean it out? thanks! : )

Hi, I use pine shavings and they work just fine. As for how often you should change them, it depends, I usually change mine when they look decently soiled or if it is rainy and they get soggy. Make sure that if you don't have great ventilation, to change them more often as the decomposition process of the feces and urine releases ammonia.