Duckling Bedding?

[DuckLover179]

Okay so my ducks are coming in 23 days now. I buy RoseBud horse bedding for my rabbits, and I was thinking about it for the ducks. I already have puppy training pads lined in my enclosure (I saw a post that said to have puppy pads then in a few days switch to shavings, so that's my plan...). I can buy a bale like this for $9 at the feed store:

So I was wondering, can I use this, or do I need pine shavings?????

Thanks!

 

[Miss Lydia]

you might lose them in that looks like pretty large of shreds, boy would I like that for my grown ducks and goose though. Wonder if Tractor supply carries it? all I've seen is the smaller bags for like 5 something.

 

[Katy]

I just use the puppy pee pads until I move them outside to wirebottom brooder.

 

[duckyfromoz]

I have my ducklings in wooden box brooders- lined with newspaper and then lay down an inch of the shavings. The first three days or so they are on a towel first so they get used to the feed and water containers- then I switch them over to the shavings. They will hunt around in the shavings- and nibble on them a bit until they work out its not food- but the shavings work well for me. I can sometimes get away without a complete cleanout of the brooder for an extra 12- 24 hours by just laying a little more down on top when the need arises or I am out of time- or by taking out a few scoops and replacing it with fresh shavings, but generally the brooders are cleaned out each day when they have a swim. The soiled shavings can go around plants out in the garden as a mulch.

 

[DuckLover179]

Quote:
What kind of shavngs do you use??? I don't know if RoseBud is healthy for them, or if I need to buy some pine.

 

[duckyfromoz]

It says kiln dried pine on the bag in your photo - and looks pretty much the same as what I use.
I am in Australia- so have different brands to you- the ones I use must be untreated wood- and also duct extracted as well when ever possible. I can get them cheaper in a huge bale from cabinet makers and carpenters- but I prefer the dearer purpose bagged ones as they come size graded- and very little dust. The one you have pictured- looks to be a more purpose packaged brand- and shouldnt have big lump of wood in it. The actual size of the shavings can vary greatly from bag to bad- and I will rummage through the bags on the shelf sometimes to get the right kinds. The smaller omes for in the brooders- and the bigger ones for outside in the night pens for the adults.

 

[Bleenie]

I have used Rosebud before, I like them but the babies to "mouth" them and sometimes try to(and do) eat them. I have used stall pellets for a lont time now, they keep the smell down and you can turn them over a few times after they start to break down before you have to change them out. I buy stall pellets for $3/bag. My duckling brooder is built on a pallet though so only one corner gets wet from the water.

 

[gofasterstripe]

I used shavings...ONCE with my last 6 babies. I put down about and 1 inch to 11/2 inches. The next day...not even 24 hours later they were soaked thru and I had to carry the heavy tote outside to dump it. No Thank You, I will stick to my puppy pads and do the 20 thousand changes a day

 

[Amiga]

The trouble I had with puppy pads was that my precious babies ATE THEM!!!! Okay, they ate the absorbent centers out of them. But only several bites before my "duck mom" sixth sense told me to check in on them . . .

pleh!

Then I discovered my beloved and I are allergic to pine shavings. I am only mildly sensitive to them, he was very sensitive.

I managed for three months using towels for bedding. It was work, but with our various restrictions, it was fine. Made some dandy fertilizer water for the garden!!!

Oh, yes, when I first put down shavings, they ate the shavings (at about two weeks old).

Sigh.

Many, many people do fine with shavings. I use pine shavings for their outdoor house now, and that's just great for them.

As ducklings, well, I'd say try it and be willing to adjust based on how well they do.

 

[mominoz]

I used the horse shavings from TS for my ducks (10) then geese(4) in my brooding area and it worked great! Then I used it in my garden, double useage! I did enlarge my brooder area in my garage by unrolling rabbit wire in a large circle and then put some cheap suncsreening fabric I had around , and boards around the bottom to contain the shavings a bit. I put down about 4-6" and keep the waterer in a bin and put a towel around it to contain spills. Then i just pulled out the wet areas and added a bit each day.