Is there any type of bedding that is better absorbancy for ducks?

MontanaChickDoc

Crowing
8 Years
Jul 2, 2016
711
1,219
267
central Virginia
I have been using pine shavings in my duck coop (where they get locked up/ sleep at night to be safe) but they get absolutely gross within 2-3 days. Duck poop is so foul - I love ducks but their poop is both soggy and voluminous. Does anyone have experience with something else I could try? Maybe the pelleted pine bedding for horses? clumping kitty litter???
 
I have been using pine shavings in my duck coop (where they get locked up/ sleep at night to be safe) but they get absolutely gross within 2-3 days. Duck poop is so foul - I love ducks but their poop is both soggy and voluminous. Does anyone have experience with something else I could try? Maybe the pelleted pine bedding for horses? clumping kitty litter???
I use straw at the bottom, covered with hay from my own pasture. But my "duck-hotel" is located on a porch-like platform with gaps between the floorboards through which air can flow, so the poop dries out very quickly.
Also they have no water and no food where they sleep which keeps their bed much drier.
 
I wish they made a "mini fork" type scoop that I could use to clean daily. As it is I just use my hands (ugh). Like a kitty litter scoop but with tines like a stall pitch fork. Maybe a cat litter scoop is not a bad idea...but tines would make it easier to "pick" their "stalls" you know?
 
I use PDZ in my chicken/duck coop. They still make a mess of the corner they sleep in, but I just scoop that sand up and put fresh down in that area once a week. Everywhere else I use a kitty litter scoop for chicken poop. It really works well keeping the flies away.
Although come winter I will probably have to add pine shavings on top for warmth.
 
Like this JPEG_20180913_152242_6509095513868231946.jpg
 
I use mostly straw and whatever hay the goats waste. I follow the deep litter method so I add straw on top as needed and the chickens do the turning for me. I've never had a problem with smell.

If the poop is especially smelly they may be getting too much protein. :confused:
 
I use a flax bedding. I didn't start with that but I'm beyond happy with it. The pine shavings just don't work with moisture/water. I put the flax bedding in the house in June. I've added very little twice now. I was scooping daily, but not even that is needed. I can get away with 4-5 days but usually do at least every 3 days. This stuff is like the cat clumping litter for ducks--not even kidding. I highly recommend it.
 

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