Duck coop flooring

[3bird]

Our duckhouse is elevated and has a wooden floor. We use the deep litter method. In the spring we start with a few bags of shavings to cover the whole floor to a couple inches deep. Then we spot clean/stir 2x/day and add straw and more shavings as needed. In the winter and during nesting season, we add more straw for warmth and nests. If it ever begins to smell, I fresh layer of shavings does the trick. We clean out once or twice a year, and all the old bedding goes into the compost.

 

[BitterSweetCitrus]

I do live in Phoenix, Arizona. My only concern is that hay or straw will get too hot during the summer. I also do not have a base floor so I guess it consider it more like a pen actually. Here’s a picture for reference

I live in South Florida, and have no problem with heat or humidity with pine shavings, I feel likes your best bet. With hay I’ve heard of some having birds that choke on the straw/hay after trying to eat it. Black Jack and linoleum are great for making the bottom of your coop last longer and make cleaning a breeze. (You can get black jack at Ace Hardware if you have local one) I’ll link a pic of our coop floor later for reference.

 

[KaleIAm]

I do live in Phoenix, Arizona. My only concern is that hay or straw will get too hot during the summer. I also do not have a base floor so I guess it consider it more like a pen actually. Here’s a picture for reference

It looks like you have a pekin. If you go with wood shaving, I would recommend that you regularly check you ducks' feet for sores like bumblefoot.

My pekin did poorly on pine shavings, even though I did find shavings easier to work with. That is why my vet told me to use straw or hay. I know other members have ducks who don't have issues with pine shavings, and some members have the same problems as I used to have before I switched to softer substrates.

Straw will mold quickly when it gets wet, though.

 

[SolarDuck]

It looks like you have a pekin. If you go with wood shaving, I would recommend that you regularly check you ducks' feet for sores like bumblefoot.

My pekin did poorly on pine shavings, even though I did find shavings easier to work with. That is why my vet told me to use straw or hay. I know other members have ducks who don't have issues with pine shavings, and some members have the same problems as I used to have before I switched to softer substrates.

Straw will mold quickly when it gets wet, though.

Any chance you remember the brand of pine shavings you used? I've used a few different brands and I find that some are definitely better than others. Some have more larger pieces that I feel like could cause bumblefoot. So far I've been using TSC, or "PetsPick" from Walmart. The TSC ones usually have maybe a handful of those larger chips but they are pretty easy to spot and pick out. The Walmart one is smaller flakes than the TSC, and I've never really noticed any big woodchips in it. One time I used a brand called Suncoast because they had it at a pet store near me, but when I dumped it on the floor of my coop I immediately started coughing like crazy because there was an ABSURD amount if dust in it, I just swept them all out right away while coughing the entire time because I didn't want my duckies breathing that in.

 

[3bird]

Any chance you remember the brand of pine shavings you used? I've used a few different brands and some are definitely better than others. Some have more larger pieces that I feel like could cause bumblefoot. So far I've been using TSC, or "PetsPick" from Walmart. The TSC ones usually have maybe a handful of those larger chips but they are pretty easy to spot and pick out. The Walmart one is smaller flakes than the TSC, and I've never really noticed any big woodchips in it. One time I used a brand called Suncoast because they had it at a pet store near me, but when I dumped it on the floor of my coop I immediately started coughing like crazy because there was an ABSURD amount if dust in it, I just swept them all out right away while coughing the entire time because I didn't want my duckies breathing that in.

I've found it varies pretty widely even within the same brand, which is a huge disappointment. TSC's shavings seem to have taken a dive recently here (some very large pieces of wood). We've found the Manna Pro Fresh Flakes Poultry Bedding to be the most reliable, but you best be ready to sell a small human to afford them for anything larger than a brooder!

 

[KaleIAm]

Any chance you remember the brand of pine shavings you used? I've used a few different brands and I find that some are definitely better than others. Some have more larger pieces that I feel like could cause bumblefoot. So far I've been using TSC, or "PetsPick" from Walmart. The TSC ones usually have maybe a handful of those larger chips but they are pretty easy to spot and pick out. The Walmart one is smaller flakes than the TSC, and I've never really noticed any big woodchips in it. One time I used a brand called Suncoast because they had it at a pet store near me, but when I dumped it on the floor of my coop I immediately started coughing like crazy because there was an ABSURD amount if dust in it, I just swept them all out right away while coughing the entire time because I didn't want my duckies breathing that in.

I wish I did remember. It was in a big rectangular package wrapped in white plastic. I haven't used it for about 4 years. I thought the pieces were quite small and soft. When I put my ducks to bed I snuggled down in the bedding with them. So when I asked my vet why we were getting bumblefoot repeatedly and she told me it was our substrate I tried to argue with her. I didn't think switching substrates would work, but years later we haven't had one bumble.

 

[DukesDucks]

I tried putting linoleum on the floor and walls of my coop. My ducks had a great time ripping it off.

 

[KaleIAm]

I tried putting linoleum on the floor and walls of my coop. My ducks had a great time ripping it off.

Naughty babies!

 

[DukesDucks]

I was very unimpressed when I started finding pieces of it in their nests. Ended up having to rip it all out because I was afraid of one of them swallowing a piece. Stupid ducks.

 

[Ratchnick]

I used the blackjack last summer, lowes sells it. Its nice, you can paint it up the walls and it stands up to shovels ect. Also truck bed liner would probably be good too.