Duck Run Bedding

[Tookie]

Personally I use nice new shavings topped with hay in my coop (house). Each night, I pick out the big clumps of poo and if needed add more shavings. Every couple of weeks or so, I dump the old shavings from the coop into the run. This way, the coop always has clean shavings and the run isn’t muddy. So ultimately I’m using recycled shavings in the run. It works very well.

Currently I am using the shavings in the coop… they get pretty messy fast. Does the hay and shavings in your coop work well?
I use the old bedding in my chicken coop and dump them in the run as well. I will say it’s work great!

 

[Debbie292d]

Currently I am using the shavings in the coop… they get pretty messy fast. Does the hay and shavings in your coop work well?
I use the old bedding in my chicken coop and dump them in the run as well. I will say it’s work great!

Have you given thought to horse bedding pellets in the coop? We've used them for over eight years now. They'd never work for ducks though as they'd be turned into sawdust in a day lol.

In the coop, it's maintenance-free for a year; we never touch it until spring when they get fresh.

 

[Tookie]

Have you given thought to horse bedding pellets in the coop? We've used them for over eight years now. They'd never work for ducks though as they'd be turned into sawdust in a day lol.

In the coop, it's maintenance-free for a year; we never touch it until spring when they get fresh.

I have considered horse bedding pellets but haven’t looked more into them yet! They really do last that long though? How’s the smell?

 

[Debbie292d]

I have considered horse bedding pellets but haven’t looked more into them yet! They really do last that long though? How’s the smell?

Zero smell. They dry out the poop. Yes, they last a long time...right now they are about 50% sawdust so by April or so, they'll be due to be replaced.

 

[Tookie]

Zero smell. They dry out the poop. Yes, they last a long time...right now they are about 50% sawdust so by April or so, they'll be due to be replaced.

Wow, that’s amazing! I think I will totally try that next year.

 

[Debbie292d]

Wow, that’s amazing! I think I will totally try that next year.

I would lay a bet that you'll love it!

I can't believe I didn't think of trying those in the brooders sooner but started this summer, and whoa that was a game changer as baby chicks stink! I lay paper towels for them the first few days as those pellets are a little rough for those little feet. Brooder pellets I stir with a stick once a day though as they don't scratch them around like adults do. They keep them dry and odor free. I'm sure coccidiosis would have a hard time starting in those as well as it dries everything out.

 

[Tookie]

I would lay a bet that you'll love it!

I can't believe I didn't think of trying those in the brooders sooner but started this summer, and whoa that was a game changer as baby chicks stink! I lay paper towels for them the first few days as those pellets are a little rough for those little feet. Brooder pellets I stir with a stick once a day though as they don't scratch them around like adults do. They keep them dry and odor free. I'm sure coccidiosis would have a hard time starting in those as well as it dries everything out.

Using them in brooders is a great idea! Sounds like these pellets have little downside.

 

[Debbie292d]

Using them in brooders is a great idea! Sounds like these pellets have little downside.

We don't have any negatives except that under the verticle nipple bottles in the brooder, when the chicks are pecking at those, they drip, and the pellets eventually turn to wet sawdust underneath. I've caught the little buggers trying to dustbathe in that! I just keep an ice cream pail nearby, remove that little area by hand, and put a few more dry ones there. When I can convert them to horizontal nipples a few weeks later, there's way less of that issue.

 

[Tookie]

We don't have any negatives except that under the verticle nipple bottles in the brooder, when the chicks are pecking at those, they drip, and the pellets eventually turn to wet sawdust underneath. I've caught the little buggers trying to dustbathe in that! I just keep an ice cream pail nearby, remove that little area by hand, and put a few more dry ones there. When I can convert them to horizontal nipples a few weeks later, there's way less of that issue.

Well that’s not too bad to deal with. I’m totally trying these pellets. One bag is the same price as one bag of shavings and the shavings get packed down quickly and seem to get messy fast.

 

[Canadian Wind]

Are the wood pellets for stoves the same thing, Debbie?