bedding for duck house/chicken coop?

[Miss Lydia]

Really? No water inside at night? They are just making a huge, stinky mess with that. It has been UNGODLY hot here though. So, maybe I need to do water when it is very cold or very hot, but not when the nights are over freezing and below 70 maybe? When their coop is still 88 degrees at 8:30pm, that's pretty bad. I put a fan in their window, but it still must be stifling for an hour or two.

Once my ducklings [which I don't have that often]We practice birth control by taking up eggs. Anyway once they are 6 weeks old food and water isn't inside any more I've been doing it this way since 2004 when i got my first ducks. They don't have a light on in their house so over night they aren't up looking for water and food. It gets pretty bad with water and bedding and I'd rather not have mold .My houses all have alot of windows for ventilation and they all have fans running.

 

[RachG75]

AmandaVirginia and I still want to hear from you that use sand or gravel and how it has worked out for you with maintenance, cleanliness, etc! Pretty please!

 

[AmandaVirginia]

AmandaVirginia and I still want to hear from you that use sand or gravel and how it has worked out for you with maintenance, cleanliness, etc! Pretty please!

I'm going to further research bark and if all goes well, give it a try with my chickens and ducks. I was admiring my mom's garden yesterday afternoon, she uses bark around her flowers and it is beautiful. Not only does it stay clean but when she waters the flowers, the water just runs so smoothly over it. I'm hopeful it could really work really great. We'll see

 

[pattik1285]

I'm glad you asked this question! I'm always looking for ideas on bedding.
Our ducks & chickens are roommates, so I worry that what works for one may not work for the other.
We are using straw & DE with a little bit of pine flakes for under the waterers & in the nesting boxes.
What seems to be working so far is sprinkling the DE on the bedding and then raking it around daily (in the AM).
We have a dirt floor so I worry about the pesky little bugs & parasites; the DE seems to do a great job. I also sprinkle dried oregano as well; bugs don't seem to like it. I also spray the walls & around the door openings with a vanilla, vinegar, and oregano essential oil mixture for flys a couple times a day too, which seems to help with the odor as well.
We do live in a drier climate in WY, so that helps keep things drier so it's less stinky.
Good luck on your adventure!

 

[Cherib603]

A mulch & DE combo seem to work great!

 

[AmandaVirginia]

A mulch & DE combo seem to work great!

Can you please tell me why DE is always used with chickens? I've had ducks for 2 years now but this is my very first pair of chickens

 

[Cherib603]

I imagine because it kills bugs, mites and fly larvae and keeps things dry.

 

[AmandaVirginia]

I imagine because it kills bugs, mites and fly larvae and keeps things dry.

And, it's safe for ducks too?

 

[Cherib603]

Yup! Been using it since mine were 5 weeks old

 

[AmandaVirginia]

Yup! Been using it since mine were 5 weeks old

Good deal! Thank you!