Best Kind of Bedding

[ducklover15]

My ducks have a large shed they go into at night. I've been using straw as bedding. It works great and I love it, it's just hard to find in my area sometimes...

I was thinking about switching to pine wood shavings since I can get it almost anywhere. I'm not really concerned with smell since I clean the shed regularly and the smell has never gotten really bad, but I am worried about the bedding staying dry. Since it has been snowing and melting on and off recently, the shed has become damp and I have to clean it much more often.

Does anyone recommend a certain kind of bedding? And is there a way I can keep the bedding drier?

Thanks! =]

 

[Amiga]

I received many opinions about bedding over on the chicken housing forum, and everyone said pine shavings are the best overall.

Do you have food and water in the shelter? I plan to keep the food and water outside, since everything I have read indicates ducks are okay overnight without them. And, of course, never food without water.

Ventilation helps with moisture, deeper bedding may help. Some people have half-inch hardware cloth for flooring.

Some use diatomaceous earth to dry up bedding material between changes.

 

[fogbubble]

I've used straw and pine shavings, and I have to say the shavings work best. The straw is OK for about one day, but it's not absorbent and can form a poop mat quickly if you don't change it frequently. The only advantage to straw is that it's cheaper, at least here. I found that Tractor Supply Co. has the best deal on shavings, with a 3 cubic feet bale selling for $4.99. A whole lot better price than Wal Mart's 2 cubic feet at about $6! Wal Mart's shavings were coarser, more like chips or mulch, and TSC'c were fine and almost dusty. I love the smell of fresh pine shavings!
My duck box is only for overnight. It's elevated with a wire bottom, and, truth be told, I could probably get by with no bedding at all (at least in warmer months) since they free-range during the day. But it just wouldn't seem nice. When I first used the shavings, they would go straight through the wire and collect underneath. That was a huge waste so I started using a thin layer of pine needles with pine shavings over them. Every week or so I rake the whole thing out and start over. With these frigid winter temperatures I have to change it more frequently, because the poop just freezes on top without being absorbed, so it forms a gross mat. It seems like the best system, but I'm definitely open to suggestions.
I do have a question: Would the natural oils in pine shavings be bad for hatching eggs? I've never heard anything like that, but the strong smell has made me wonder.
Thanks,
Shannon

 

[newchickmom09]

I use the pine bedding from Walmart in my ducks house. Here the pine bedding is only $3 at Walmart. I used to use straw but I didn't want to take a chance of the sharp pieces cutting there feet.

I really like the pine bedding, I fluff it about twice a week with a rake real quick then change it every other week. I only have two ducks and they free range so they don't get it too dirty. I like the smell a lot better and I think it is easier to deal with when it gets wet.

My ducks don't make a mess with the bedding. They don't track it out or anything. They only time it becomes a mess is when I let the chickens out and they go in there and scratch around.

 

[needafarm]

I was wanting to eventually use the pine shavings two. My duckling is only 3 days old so im using old towels right now. At what age can shavings be used. I would hate for it to eat some.

 

[newchickmom09]

Quote:
You could put some shaving in there at a week old. They might nibble on them but they probably won't actualy eat them.

 

[Wifezilla]

Here the pine bedding is only $3 at Walmart.

Holy cow! That stuff is over $7 here!​

 

[ducklover15]

Pine shavings sound like the answer! I'll have to shop around and see where it's the cheapest. Thanks guys! =]

 

[allanimals21]

which bedding is bad for small animals? Cedar? Also I was thinking of putting wood shavings/chips whatever in with my 3 month old pullets. Whats gonna happen if they eat any?