Best/Worst types of bedding

[nightstar]

last year, I used wood shavings from tractor supply. I only had 2 ducks but boy was it a mess!! I had to change the bedding at least twice a day!! This year, as I was thinking on what to use, I looked over at the pad I keep under the front of my African greys cage, the same thing that I keep under the litterbox because my fat cat goes in, but sticks his butt out the door and uses it outside the litterbox!! I found a place on ebay that has used ones. The name is "chux" and they have them listed under puppy pads or something. These kind are washable. I just bought 13 more tonight for $49 and change. Other places to get used ones at is Nursing homes or funeral homes. The bottom is waterproof and they soak up excellent! Plus there are not any places on them for the babies to snag their feet!

 

[Going Quackers]

around here I kind of did a visual search of others coops and hay seems to be the predominate bedding. Mostly cause most ranchers and chicken keepers have other farm animals ie..horses. A couple did use pine shavings but they have to get like 15 bags and it is sooo expensive than hay. I get a bale for 18 bills and it could easily go for two cleanings. I used the whole thing this first time and I think my hay bed IN the coop is around 18 in. lol. Way too much. but it is easy to clean and compostable. Also, the chicks eat the seed heads and green leafy stuff in the hay. I think it is a timothy and alfalfa mix. Smells good, i dunno. anyway, with the low humidity and high winds. Sand would suck. Gives a new meaning to dirt farming. Do you guys and gals use your old bedding in garden beds and such? Do you use it right away or leave it in a composting pile for awhile? Ofcourse I only have 6 hens and a couple of turkeys. Not as much as some of you guys.

I spread mine i have a muck thrower, i also wait for it to compost down then throw some in the gardens too BUT i am in the country, i have two manure piles, one is horses, the other chicken, duck and rabbit.

 

[Shamrock4]

How much would you say wood pellets cost and for how much of them? We are using straw now because it's cheap $4 a bale but it gets gross FAST and with seven ducks in the brooder, its big enough that it's a giant pain to clean out every few days. Would wood pellets last a little longer?

 

I buy wood pellets for $5.99 a bag, but they last at least twice as long as shavings. I have 18 3-5 week old ducklings in a brooder right now and I have to change the area around their water every couple days, but they absorb so much its not dripping wet or anything. The rest of the brooder last way longer, and the ducklings are always dry and very clean.

 

[Going Quackers]

How much would you say wood pellets cost and for how much of them? We are using straw now because it's cheap $4 a bale but it gets gross FAST and with seven ducks in the brooder, its big enough that it's a giant pain to clean out every few days. Would wood pellets last a little longer?

6$ a bag here, there 40lbs. Mine is for horses, bought at the farm supply, but a square bale of straw here is 6$ so apples to apples and i hate straw lol They definitely last longer, i mix with shavings because i have rubber stalls mats down for the horses and the ducks so it would be the ice capades others wise.. they dissolve(when wet) into this power which is practically dust free and smells wonderfully!

 

[ShakeragSusan]

Regarding the danger of cedar bedding, I have used pine shavings with my flock. But my flock free ranges and nearly everyday I have found someone dust bathing in the cedar sawdust from my Dad's little sawmill. They all seem plenty healthy. And I couldn't keep them away from the sawdust pile if I tried (just like the kids). When I first got chickens and guineas, Dad was sawing a variety of woods. Over the last 3 months, he has begun sawing almost exclusively eastern red cedar (juniper).

So, while not a great idea, apparently it is not as bad as I was led to believe, at least for chickens and guineas. No ducks here.

 

[Going Quackers]

Regarding the danger of cedar bedding, I have used pine shavings with my flock. But my flock free ranges and nearly everyday I have found someone dust bathing in the cedar sawdust from my Dad's little sawmill. They all seem plenty healthy. And I couldn't keep them away from the sawdust pile if I tried (just like the kids). When I first got chickens and guineas, Dad was sawing a variety of woods. Over the last 3 months, he has begun sawing almost exclusively eastern red cedar (juniper).

So, while not a great idea, apparently it is not as bad as I was led to believe, at least for chickens and guineas. No ducks here.

It's the fumes in an outdoor setting the risk would be lowered, in a brooder, small coop etc.. elevated.

 

[tcmstalcup]

My coop has sand. I get it for freee and its great. In the brooders I use pine shavings.

 

[Nebraskagirl]

I use and LOVE alfalfa hay. It is great and easy for me to get and it is FREE for me I just pick out pieces with the poo in the mornings, fluff the bedding and be done with it. I only have two ducks using it right now (I have two ducklings in a brooder currently as well) but I like it and it is also nutritious for them.

 

[cosbackyard]

My coop has sand. I get it for freee and its great. In the brooders I use pine shavings.

What kind of coop floor do you have? I have wood covered with linoleum and would like to use sand - just not sure if it would retain too much moisture.

 

[Going Quackers]

I use and LOVE alfalfa hay. It is great and easy for me to get and it is FREE for me I just pick out pieces with the poo in the mornings, fluff the bedding and be done with it. I only have two ducks using it right now (I have two ducklings in a brooder currently as well) but I like it and it is also nutritious for them.

Well if you get it for free that is different lol Hay is expensive and wasteful as bedding, that would not be an option here. Besides, i have 14 ducks huge mess difference than two lol We all have to find what works for us of coarse, so many variables.