Best brooder bedding for ducks?

[Sparrow]

Just wondering what everyone's favorite bedding is when brooding ducks. I have tried most everything, and this year we tried play sand. It isn't as absorbent as wood shavings(which my respiratory system cannot tolerate), but it keeps them warm, clean, and if you make it deep enough it doesn't get soaked nearly as fast as other things I have used. I was worried at first about them trying to eat it, but they actually seem repulsed by the texture in their mouths. I am pretty convinced there is no way to keep duckling perfectly dry and spotless 24/7, but the sand seems pretty good so far!

 

[Going Quackers]

Good to hear feedback on this, what type of sand did you use? I always use shavings(softwoods, no cedar!) and will use wood pellet bedding down the road when their bigger.

I am actually going to brood some chicks on sand this time 'round, but have still yet to try this with ducks. Do you find it gets really wet?

 

[kazoo1111]

I always use cut up fabric the first few days to make it seem a little like the mom is there. Also the mom lined the nest with feathers so it's also like that. Then I start uses pine shavings but not sand because it can get int there eyes

 

[Sparrow]

With two rapidly growing ducks in a smallish brooder, it really only tends to get soaked after a day or so. Then, we just scoop it out and put in fresh stuff. One amazing thing about it is the fact that if they really trash/soak the place overnight and get their bellies all gummy and gross, as soon as you put the new sand in, it miraculously cleans and dries them so they look perfect and fluffy again! It is pretty cool. And, they have had no issues getting sand in their eyes. I just make sure to keep a water bowl(cut out milk jug) deep enough to submerge their heads in just in case.

 

[BridgetE]

Has anyone tried using straw? I'm using aspen shavings right now, but a have a bale of straw that I'd like to make use of. Maybe blend the 2 together? My husband is so meticulous that we are going through a bag of bedding every couple of days. We only have 3 ducks and the brooder is a kiddie pool.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Straw doesn’t soak up wet poo very good at all maybe try a mix of both and see how that goes

 

[chickens really]

Pine shavings is all I ever use with Ducklings..