Deep liter and ducks

[chickens really]

Ducks poo is too wet in my opinion for deep litter. They don't scratch like chickens so it rots pretty fast. I use sand in my runs.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I have used deep litter for probably 11 yrs never had any problems with it inside their houses. I do spot clean daily and freshen about every 2-3 weeks. But it's never wet all the way through and very easy to keep up. Shavings is the only bedding I use though when I used straw many years ago it was a mess in no time doesn't absorb at all. And stinks.

 

[PirateGirl]

I am experimenting right now because I felt bad just throwing my duck litter in the trash, it wasn't breaking down enough for me to add it to the garden, but was getting too wet and had too much excrement to stay in the run. I don't think my ducks are cut out for deep litter, however there is hope with the chickens, because, as mentioned, they scratch and turn everything and are a bit drier. So now, when the litter in the duck run needs to be changed, I shovel it all into the chicken run. Then the chickens commence their work turning and picking through it and helping it break down. So far it has been working. By the time the duck run needs to be emptied out again, the chickens have broken down virtually everything and are ready to start their work on the next batch.

 

[lomine]

In the winter I use heated water buckets inside the coop and the ducks make the spots very wet. In those cases I spread the wet bedding out over the dry parts and mix a bit. I've never had a problem with the litter smelling.

I used to use pine shavings but switched to straw. I found the straw broke down faster and was easier to use overall. I've never had a problems with it not absorbing but that could be because I do live in a dry area.

I do not spot clean. If it starts to look "dirty" I toss in a few flakes of straw and let the chickens spread it out. It is much easier with chickens because they do all the work. When I used it with ducks only I had to mix it myself every week or every other week. But the whole thing is like a compost pile, you have to find the right mix.

 

[snow5164]

My sand is so much less complicated
I tried deep litter and got mold . I think it required more work then my girls wanted to do , they only come in to sleep so the scratching and turning wasn’t happening .

My ducks walk across the sand to their straw “ nests” and sleep , not sure they’d turn over deep litter.

Good on you @Miss Lydia you must have very curious and busy ducks

 

[Miss Lydia]

Nope just me taking care of it. Although in the big coop some of my chickens help me out