Hay for indian runners ?

[DuckyDonna]

Straw is hollow and holds in heat. Hay doesn't. Hay is feed.
I grew up in Alberta and Saskatchewan farming country.

True that but around here hay is free and my ducks have been fine with it since I've had them. Of course, I am in Georgia and although it gets cold it doesn't get ridiculous like it does in Canada.

 

[casportpony]

I never use hay with them due to fungal infection risks, etc. that could occur if they ate moldy hay.

That's good advice!

Hay is fine, but when it gets wet, it will get moldy and go rancid faster than straw, so straw is preferred for bedding.

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

Straw is hollow and holds in heat. Hay doesn't. Hay is feed.
I grew up in Alberta and Saskatchewan farming country.

I know that too, but my Duckies are stubborn creatures - with built in down-jackets.

 

[chickens really]

Wet straw rots as fast as Hay...

 

[casportpony]

I think we'll have to agree to disagree on that. It's been my experience that when hay gets wet it grows mold *much* quicker than straw does.

Note that my experience is with alfalfa hay, oat hay, grass hay, and straw.

http://gettyequinenutrition.biz/Library/Feedingstrawtotheinsulinresistanthorsemaybeamistake.htm

 

[Table4Six]

I used to use hay for my ducks nests, but, well, it didn't work out as I planned. With just a bit of rain and moist air, it was a soppy, gross lump. Then I took it to the next level, and became even more of a nature, animal-loving weirdo, and started using pine needles. They work beautifully and the ducks love laying their eggs in them. It's natural and the ducks feel right at home. Because the pine needles have more solidity than hay, they do not take in moisture, meaning they dry quickly.

 

[casportpony]

I used to use hay for my ducks nests, but, well, it didn't work out as I planned. With just a bit of rain and moist air, it was a soppy, gross lump. Then I took it to the next level, and became even more of a nature, animal-loving weirdo, and started using pine needles. They work beautifully and the ducks love laying their eggs in them. It's natural and the ducks feel right at home. Because the pine needles have more solidity than hay, they do not take in moisture, meaning they dry quickly.

Pine needles sound like a great choice!

 

[Miss Lydia]

When I lived in Florida (born there ) I use to gather pine straw every fall that stuff makes awesome mulch and it takes a long time for it to break down.wish I could get it here.

 

[NettyM]

can we some picturews of the ducks

 

[casportpony]