Bedding Question?

[Palinor]

My chickens and ducks share a coop. For whatever reason a couple of my chickens like to lay on the ground. It's usually ducks in one corner and chickens in another.. This leaves the corners pretty messy and I clean them often. Under the straw is a cement floor. When I scoop the straw out the floor it's wet underneath. What can I do to soak up more moisture? or Should I just pile more straw on?

 

[lilmillefleur]

You could try using pine shavings instead of straw..

 

[Frazzemrat1]

how deep is your straw layer? I have straw in my coop and in the concrete portion of my run. With the cold we've had, the straw I have in both areas is about 6" deep.

 

[Palinor]

how deep is your straw layer? I have straw in my coop and in the concrete portion of my run. With the cold we've had, the straw I have in both areas is about 6" deep.

Maybe 2 inches at the most. I can add more straw no problem

 

[Frazzemrat1]

Maybe 2 inches at the most. I can add more straw no problem

I would add much more. The other issue with concrete is because its so hard, you run the risk of both your chickens and ducks getting sores on the bottom of their feet, commonly known as bumblefoot. Keep a nice thick layer of straw down over concrete!!

 

[twisted-acres-farm]

you could also use wood or heavy cardboard and sort of 45* the corners so there aren't corners. I do that in my brooder rooms as it avoids "pile ups" and deaths when they are chicks.

 

[AmazingRachel]

I would recommend having a layer of pine shavings under the straw layer. Straw isn't as absorbent as pine shavings. It would be better since duck poop is mostly liquid.

 

[twisted-acres-farm]

a layer of "stall fresh/PDZ" first on the cement , definitely help with odor control.

 

[Palinor]

I would recommend having a layer of pine shavings under the straw layer. Straw isn't as absorbent as pine shavings. It would be better since duck poop is mostly liquid.

yeah, the ducks are the big problem. They're poopy savages

 

[Ruralhideaway]

Horse pine bedding pellets are crazy wetness sponges. A coffee can full of pellets turns into a big bucket full of sawdust when it gets wet. I'd clean the floor, lay a very small layer where the wet areas are, then straw or shavings over that. Great stuff, way more in that bag than it appears. Tractor supplies brand is good.