Messy Duck House/Run

[Broodmaster]

Hello I have six Buff Ducks and they are very cute and messy. I was hoping someone could tell me what would be the best bedding that could be put in their run and house. They currently have sand in their house with some shavings. We have tried hay and shavings in their house and run though they end up eating most of it and the hay just goes moldy after a few days. I am wanting something that can absorb all their mess and still be somewhat dry and last a little longer than a few days. Thanks.

 

[indianaducks]

Hello I have six Buff Ducks and they are very cute and messy. I was hoping someone could tell me what would be the best bedding that could be put in their run and house. They currently have sand in their house with some shavings. We have tried hay and shavings in their house and run though they end up eating most of it and the hay just goes moldy after a few days. I am wanting something that can absorb all their mess and still be somewhat dry and last a little longer than a few days. Thanks.

Good luck... I haven't found anything that really keeps it clean. I've resorted to straw because it keeps them out of the mud when we get tons of rain. Its still gross and needs to be cleaned out a lot but so far its the only thing I've found that is doable.

-They have pine shavings in their small coop where they sleep. This stays pretty clean since they are only in here to sleep and there's no food or water.
-Their coop is in a chain link dog run with straw - it now has a full roof as of a few days ago. They are only in here when I can't supervise free ranging. It does get gross but I'm hoping the roof helps once I get the latest monsoon mud disaster dried out. The straw keeps them out of the worst of the mud.
-Usually they are free ranging during the day unless there's too many predators out or I'm not able to check on them.

 

[Crazy Maizie]

I will also say good luck.

In the run, I have sand and clean up as much poo as I can daily. I got a rubber mat to place under one of the water sources to keep that area less messy and less muddy. I just put it down and they are using it now after a few days of avoiding the area. Next year, I will add some more mats around the stock tank I have for them.
In the duck house most of the year I use soft shavings. I pick out as much poo as I can daily and remove any wet shavings.
In the winter I put a nice thick layer of straw down in the duck house and run. Clean out big messes daily.
It works well enough.
When we get a lot of rain, it can be a real muddy mess.

 

[Knighstar679]

Cleanest bedding I have found are the horse pine pellets. I put down 4 bags in my 8x9 house and wait until it starts to turn to dust. Now that it’s growing cold I added pine shavings to it. I will keep adding to it until spring as my chickens turn the bedding over for me.

 

[DucksOhio]

Cleanest bedding I have found are the horse pine pellets. I put down 4 bags in my 8x9 house and wait until it starts to turn to dust. Now that it’s growing cold I added pine shavings to it. I will keep adding to it until spring as my chickens turn the bedding over for me.

Are those expensive? Just curious.

 

[Knighstar679]

Are those expensive? Just curious.

The pine pellets are 5.99 a bag. I can get a decent life span out of them so long as they don’t get soaked.

I usually get about a month out of it with it being turned over regularly by the chickens (they like playing in it). Then I usually take out half the pine pellets add in two new bags stir it up and we are usually good for another month. I empty it out completely every 4 months or so unless it gets wet which has happened during wind storms.
Winter time I am adding shaving large flakes for more warmth.

 

[MartinFamilyHomestead]

Hello I have six Buff Ducks and they are very cute and messy. I was hoping someone could tell me what would be the best bedding that could be put in their run and house. They currently have sand in their house with some shavings. We have tried hay and shavings in their house and run though they end up eating most of it and the hay just goes moldy after a few days. I am wanting something that can absorb all their mess and still be somewhat dry and last a little longer than a few days. Thanks.

We custom built our duck house and where we place the water we used small square fencing for the floor. It has saved so much on the floor boards and obviously the bedding lasts longer as it’s not getting as soaked. Another thought too is not feeding them while they are locked in the house. Feed them while they are out during the day. Less feed and water in the house. The less mess and less they poop in house

 

[Isadora]

I use rough cut mulch, like the kind you can get from a tree cutting service. It is the best bedding I have used so far.

 

[igorsMistress]

I use straw in the duck house and in the yard where the structure is located. Then add more as it breaks down or gets soiled. Eventually the stuff in the yard goes away and when the litter is thick and soiled in the house I take it to the garden. They don’t eat it, it’s cheap and it lasts a while.

 

[Crazy Maizie]

I use straw in the duck house and in the yard where the structure is located. Then add more as it breaks down or gets soiled. Eventually the stuff in the yard goes away and when the litter is thick and soiled in the house I take it to the garden. They don’t eat it, it’s cheap and it lasts a while.

Love your profile pic.