Why hay?

[SunHwaKwon]

Is there a reason to use hay in the duck house instead of shavings? Is it just so they can pile it up better? I'm in the process of making a duck house for my Muscovy male, and eventually the four ducklings I picked up yesterday. I have plenty of shavings, just wondering if I really need to go get some hay. Do the ducks poop a lot while they sleep like chickens so?

 

[Papaye]

Hello.

Yes : ducks do poop a lot while they sleep.

Nevertheless : I would really recommend you to NEVER use hay in your duck house.
(I don't know where you have heard it was good to use...? I was pretty sure it was a known fact hay is not considered safe to use for a duck house?)

...Personally, I just use straw for my duck's bedding.
And I am happy with that - only issue I am having being the fact straw is becoming rare where I live (apparently partly due to the fact people built houses on "former" agricultural lands), and so, harder and harder to procure...

I don't know about using shavings, since I have no personal experience with these... (Sorry.)

(...Also, you would do good by waiting for your - so cute - ducklings to be sexually mature before putting them with your drake : indeed, you don't want him to kill your ducklings - be it by raping them to death, drowning them, or whatever he could do to kill them...)

 

[Quatie]

Hay should never be used as a bedding for ducks. It molds very easily, which lead to respiratory diseases.

Straw on the other hand does not usually mold. As for using shavings vs straw, I would say that is mostly going to be personal preference and locational. I use straw because it is cheaper and softer on their feet. Many find straw warmed for their ducks for bedding in the winter. But I know many use shavings because it can be slightly better at absorbing water for them. In some areas, shavings are cheaper than straw. People will also use a combination of the two, shavings in the bottom with straw on top. Both of them can be used for deep layer bedding.

Honestly, use what works best for you. Each location has different weather, humidity and other issues. I would try them both out and see what works better for you. Or ask people locally what they use and why. Because what works for me and why, will not necessarily be the same in your area. Like for instance, the quality of the shavings in my area dropped after fires and COVID.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I use shavings. Straw might keep the moisture off their feet a bit more if it's piled up, but I don't know for sure

 

[cheezenkwackers]

I use shavings but add hay on top of shavings in their nest boxes and everywhere when it is cold. The hay acts like a sieve for the poop and the shavings absorb any liquid. I change my top layer of hay daily. I only change my shavings about once a month although I do spot clean. Btw, I get nice clean eggs this way.

 

[Jenbirdee]

I use shavings but add hay on top of shavings in their nest boxes and everywhere when it is cold. The hay acts like a sieve for the poop and the shavings absorb any liquid. I change my top layer of hay daily. I only change my shavings about once a month although I do spot clean. Btw, I get nice clean eggs this way.

hay? or you mean straw

 

[Jenbirdee]

i use shavings all year except for winter. in winter i use shavings AND straw. The straw keeps them warmer because it’s like little tubes that can hold the warm air in them, but the shavings absorb the moisture which also keeps them warmer if they are not wet.

 

[SunHwaKwon]

Thank you, everyone, this information is very helpful.

My drake is 3 months old. I wasn't sure I was going to keep him since I ended up with him as a favor to someone. My chickens, guineas, and he free range dawn to dusk every day and I was planning to let the ducklings start joining them in about a month. I'm still on the lookout for a mature hen to add to the group so once he hits puberty he won't harm a guinea (his preferred comrades) or a chicken.

 

[cheezenkwackers]

hay? or you mean straw

I use hay. I have used straw but hay is softer. I know what some say but I have been doing it for eight years without incident. But, I keep my coop pretty clean. My hay isn’t allowed to get wet or mold.

 

[Jenbirdee]

I use hay. I have used straw but hay is softer. I know what some say but I have been doing it for eight years without incident. But, I keep my coop pretty clean. My hay isn’t allowed to get wet or mold.

i tried hay once i liked the way it smells and i like to put it in my garden after ducks were done with it lol but then i read hay is bad so i stopped