bedding material for duckling!

[kstes347]

Hi!

I'm new to raising ducks and I want to do it right! For now, my little guy (or possibly girl now that some feathers are showing up) is growing up in a Southern California apartment with a big back patio and pesky neighbors but will be moving up to Northern California in 2 months. Harvey is ready to spend his daytime hours outdoors and I'm constructing a temporary coop/cage for him/her on the back patio. I know I need to include all the important elements such as swimming water, drinking/eating water, shade and predator protection. I bought a giant bag of Pine bedding... is that ok for ducks? The one time I tried it in his cage, he spent the whole day trying to eat it! But I figured he would get used to it. Any suggestions for bedding/ will the Pine be ok?

I appreciate any tips or advice!

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

That is fine bedding, but will get wet and need cleaning and replacing. I would build a wire bottom (welded wire/hardware cloth). Until the duckling is fully feathered I would leave swimming water unsupervised as they can tire,chill and drown.

 

[BarredBuff]

Pineshabings will work but they are so MESSY!

 

[kstes347]

Ok thank you! Do you have any suggestions for what would be best to use instead?

 

[Kschwartz]

Straw and hay would be fine also! I actually just picked up a bay of hay for the first time ever today after switching from pine shavings, only $4.95 . If you are concerned about your ducklings trying to eat pine shavings, I would recommend hay/straw.

 

[dianaross77]

I use Equine Fresh pine pellets. Way less disgusting than shavings. I get them at TSC.