Keeping Ducks

[Kaessa]

I have used straw for bedding and now use pine shavings. It's a quality issue. I started getting bale after bale of moldy straw from various sources, so I gave up and use the shavings.

Where do you get your pine shavings?

 

[Amiga]

There is a hardware store in Southbury, CT, that also carries livestock supplies including bales of pine shavings wrapped in kraft paper (brown paper). I prefer that because I can burn or compost the wrappers.

There's another livestock-oriented place, a feed store - tractor store in Bethany. They sell it in plastic wrap - not my favorite, because I cannot compost plastic and the plastic holds the aromatics in - those fumes worry me a bit - don't want the ducks getting lung irritation.

Most places that sell feed seem to carry the shavings.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I get mine at the fed store it say horse bedding because it's thicker than the fine bedding you can also buy. about 5.99 per bale.

 

[needlessjunk]

I also use the horse shaving or rather the big white plastic wrapped ones. That's what we used on my grandparents horse ranch and that's what I get at the feed store. The last bag I got from TSC had big chunks of wood in so I'm done with theirs.

 

[Mrs.H]

Hmmmm I need to look into horse bedding

 

[Mrs.H]

I get mine at the fed store it say horse bedding because it's thicker than the fine bedding you can also buy. about 5.99 per bale.

I also use the horse shaving or rather the big white plastic wrapped ones. That's what we used on my grandparents horse ranch and that's what I get at the feed store. The last bag I got from TSC had big chunks of wood in so I'm done with theirs.

Is there a specific brand you guys use?

 

[Kaessa]

There is a hardware store in Southbury, CT, that also carries livestock supplies including bales of pine shavings wrapped in kraft paper (brown paper). I prefer that because I can burn or compost the wrappers.

There's another livestock-oriented place, a feed store - tractor store in Bethany. They sell it in plastic wrap - not my favorite, because I cannot compost plastic and the plastic holds the aromatics in - those fumes worry me a bit - don't want the ducks getting lung irritation.

Most places that sell feed seem to carry the shavings.

Thanks! I'll take a look at our local co-op and at TSC.

 

[allergymama]

My ducks have been fine this winter (mixed flock of WH, pekin, Rouen, and khaki Campbell) and we have had a lot of super cold (-30 BEFORE windchill). I have not heated or given artificial light and they have done just fine. When it is below zero I keep them penned otherwise they are still free to run the yard (although they mostly hang under the pine trees). We have a raised shed with lots a mix of straw and wood shavings on the floor that is protected from wind (by the pine tree lol) and faces south attached to a duck run where the food and water is.

We change their water twice a day (three times a day when it's below zero). I gave them a heated dog bowl for drinking water and then a large black rubber (from tsc) bowl to "swim" in (maybe 24" across, 6" deep). Along with regular feed, We also have been adding a food bowl of just corn to help with caloric intake.

They have a down coat and lots of fat. They do just fine in cold and are happy and healthy.

Learn from one mistake we made: do not put the "swim" water too close to the door unless you don't plan on being able to open or close it 1/2 way through the winter...

 

[Miss Lydia]

Is there a specific brand you guys use?

The horse bedding [shavings] I buy is called Southern Star it's a much bigger bale than TSC sells and the shaving are better too.

 

[Mrs.H]

The horse bedding [shavings] I buy is called Southern Star it's a much bigger bale than TSC sells and the shaving are better too.

Thanks!