Getting set up for ducklings!

[FaerieGlynne]

Hay and straw are different. Not sure why the feed store folks wouldn't know that.

Honestly I don't really know what the difference is. Do I need to make sure to use one other?

 

[fearnowsh]

Honestly I don't really know what the difference is. Do I need to make sure to use one other?

I just googled: "Straw is a stalk, usually a waste product of wheat, that's used as bedding for barnyard animals. Hay—typically alfalfa or a grass—is used as animal feed." was the first thing that popped up. Hope this helps! I imagine you would be able to see the leaves from the plant in hay. where as with straw you will just see a stalk and no leaves. I also believe that hay will actually look a little more green and straw will look more golden colored when looked at side-by-side.

 

[FaerieGlynne]

Ah! That makes sense with that info I imagine straw would be the better bedding choice. Especially because I can see how a greener bale at have higher chance of mold because green means more moisture. Thanks!

I'm going to start cleaning out the shed today, not that big of a job. I'm going to take pics as I go to share my journey. Thanks for the advice and support on my adventure.

As far as the fencing I think I'm going to stick with the electrical fencing. The area will be pretty big for the amount of ducks, everything of interest away from the fence, and by the time they will be in it "unattended" they should be quite used to it. Hopefully I won't have problems. My area is just too rural and unfenced to not have good fencing. Sadly my abilities, the ruggedness of at least one side of the area, and the fact that any permanent fencing is not okay with the home owners still has me feeling this is my best choice.

Now to decide between premier 1 and kencove.

 

[N F C]

For what it's worth...I've read that because straw is hollow mites can hide out in it. I've never used straw simply because it's too expensive around here. I have hay already on hand for feeding other animals so it works well in the chicken coop. Since ducks are said to be way messier than chickens, maybe straw is the way to go. Just thought I'd add my $0.02 worth

 

[FaerieGlynne]

Lol! Hay, straw! Who knew it would be so confusing! I guess whatever it is they sell at the near by feed store that doesn't know the difference is what will be tried first.

Edit
I'm thinking I'll do pine shavings too in layers since I'm going to attempt the deep litter method.

Your $0.02 is greatly appreated! I think mites are supposed to not really be a problem cuz they drown on swimming ducks.

 

[N F C]

Lol! Hay, straw! Who knew it would be so confusing! I guess whatever it is they sell at the near by feed store that doesn't know the difference is what will be tried first.

Edit
I'm thinking I'll do pine shavings too in layers since I'm going to attempt the deep litter method.

Your $0.02 is greatly appreated! I think mites are supposed to not really be a problem cuz they drown on swimming ducks.

I'm new to ducks (get mine in April), that's what I read about using it for chickens. Just thought I'd put it out there.

It does get confusing because it seems there's always some other way of doing things. We need hard & fast rules to make life simpler!

 

[FaerieGlynne]

Right! Sometimes I'd love to have a clear cut "right" way. All we have is our best

 

[fearnowsh]

Ah! That makes sense

with that info I imagine straw would be the better bedding choice. Especially because I can see how a greener bale at have higher chance of mold because green means more moisture. Thanks!

I believe the color difference is just because they are from different plants. Hay needs to be just as dry to be stored as food. I am by no means an experts though. I am just getting started myself.

 

[lomine]

I believe that hay can also have lots of seeds in it. That might be a potential problem if you plan to use it as compost later in the garden. Though I have read that hay is good in nesting boxes.

When I first started (Sep 2015) I planned to do deep litter in my above ground coop and in half my run. (The other half is pea gravel in case you're curious.) Coop is 6x8 with trex boards spaced widely apart and all covered in hardware cloth. Full run is 8x25 with dirt/sand bottom. I started with just pine shavings and a few handfuls from my worm composter to introduce all the good bacteria. I did the usual thing of turning and adding more bedding as needed. In the fall I added dry leaves. I added DE once but I think it made it too dry so I didn't do it again. When the weather got cold I started adding straw to give them something to burrow into a little.

The deep litter in the run is doing great. It is breaking down really nicely and doesn't smell at all. The deep litter in the coop hasn't been working. It never really stated to breakdown and it always smelled a bit. I ended up pulling out two huge garbage bags worth from the coop and putting in clean bedding. I decided to instead just pull the top layer out of the coop during each cleaning and adding it to the run. Then add more bedding to the coop as needed. That has been working better.

What's the point in all this? I think deep litter works best over dirt so be prepared for that if your shed has a wood floor.

 

[FaerieGlynne]

I believe that hay can also have lots of seeds in it. That might be a potential problem if you plan to use it as compost later in the garden. Though I have read that hay is good in nesting boxes.

When I first started (Sep 2015) I planned to do deep litter in my above ground coop and in half my run. (The other half is pea gravel in case your curious.) Coop is 6x8 with trex boards spaced widely apart and all covered in hardware cloth. Full run is 8x25 with dirt/sand bottom. I started with just pine shavings and a few handfuls from my worm composter to introduce all the good bacteria. I did the usual thing of turning and adding more bedding as needed. In the fall I added dry leaves. I added DE once but I think it made it too dry so I didn't do it again. When the weather got cold I started adding straw to give them something to burrow into a little.

The deep litter in the run is doing great. It is breaking down really nicely and doesn't smell at all. The deep litter in the coop hasn't been working. It never really stated to breakdown and it always smelled a bit. I ended up pulling out two huge garbage bags worth from the coop and putting in clean bedding. I decided to instead just pull the top layer out of the coop during each cleaning and adding it to the run. Then add more bedding to the coop as needed. That has been working better. 

What's the point in all this? I think deep litter works best over dirt so be prepared for that if your shed has a wood floor.

Mighty fine point, it does have a floor. I really like your idea! I'll be doing that for sure. Thanks!