Bedding for outdoor enclosure.

[Monica Burton]

We have 3 5 months old pekin ducks. We have this enclosure for them at night:

https://www.amazon.com/Advantek-Ori...00E64HZAE/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

I was wondering what was the best bedding to use. I have been reading about the deep layer bedding you don't have to change as often, but I don't mind something else with less layers or even one layer that I have to change more frequently. They only sleep in this enclosure and there is no water or food inside. They free range in our fenced yard during the day. The fact it is open on all sides makes me wonder if there is a bedding that would be better since it is more exposed. The grass I spray off with the hose every couple of days but it is ugly now and dead so wanted something more comfortable for them and less of an eye sore. They also started laying eggs, very exciting! ANyhow any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Duckstruck]

@Monica Burton, exposed bedding will be tricky; the wind could always pick up and take it away.
Frankly, I give my ducks a run and a coop overnight, but sand has been helpful outdoors. Sand absorbs water well, perhaps it will help keep the inside cleaner from watery feces. I've found it cheap, abundant, and easy to use. Sometimes people on craigslist will have free sand piles they need to get rid of.
Hope this helps!

 

[gilbert2]

I have always used chopped straw. I don't know if it would work for you, but after they tamp it down with their webbed feet, the straw seems to become more resistant to blowing away. Especially so if you wet it down a little before letting them trample it. Hope this might help.

 

[chickens really]

Ducks like a place to get out of the wind .. I have a Extra Large Dig house and fill it with pine shavings...

 

[Firegal1056]

I was wondering that about sand for my coop. Th y ha e a house that will
Ha e chopped straw of shavings but my coop is 14X8' and I want 2-3 inches of something other than dirt in there. So sand has worked well for you? Any advice is appreciated. My 'girls' are only 6 days old today.

 

[Duckstruck]

@Firegal1056, I first started using it in my run since I had a bad mud issue (since ducks love to make messes with water). At the time, I had six ducks. It helped clean it up a LOT!

 

[Monica Burton]

Thanks for the advice guys. I think I will get them a little dog house to put inside the enclosure so they have a little space to be more cozy if they like. WIll look into the sand and straw. I used pine shaving when we were keeping them in our XXL dog kennel at night but it was so messy. Now that they have a larger space I think the other options sound great. And I can keep the pine shaving in the doghouse when I get it.

 

[Sami64]

We use aspen wood shavings. When we used straw we have a mold problem and it was difficult to muck it out and put in fresh. As a bonus, the wood shavings degrade and can be used as composed mulch. My backyard wild flowers love it.

 

[onaharley]

We just did our 10x10ft duck coop with 50 bags of leveling sand! Lots of hard work but let me tell you.... it's like scooping up kitty litter. It absorbs and dries in clumps for the most part, i scoop it out every night before i lock them them up. It's like i'm making them their bed i only have 2 ducks, so it's manageable. Now i just have to make their duck house for the winter and i should be all set.....for now

 

[pamelajean]

I am trying deep litter with my now 9.5 week old ducks. They have been outside now for 6 weeks. They have a house with wood shavings that they use at night - no water or food in the house. So far its working well. I clean out any heavily soiled areas once a week and have added a thin layer of fresh shavings once since the beginning and it seems to be working well. I am looking forward to the compost during clean outs too.