Moving Ducklings to House/Coop

[Bill83]

I am about a week away from moving my ducklings outside to their house/coop run. I have been raising them in an extra bathtub with pine shavings. Their house is roughly a 4x4 house inside of a 8x12 run.

Should i just leave dirt/grass as the floor in the run ?
Should i try to put something down ? is so and what works best for everyone ?
How often should i change the bedding ?

I am in NJ not sure if climate matters.

Thanks

 

[ButtonquailGirl14]

It sounds great! Sand works too! Welcome to byc!! Glad you could join the Flock! Let me know if you need anything!

 

[PirateGirl]

I would leave the dirt/grass for now, but depending on how many ducks you have that may not last long and may just become a mud pit. I tend to throw down a few inches of straw and then rake it up when it gets mucky. It's not the best system, but it's the best I've got for now.

 

[Bill83]

I would leave the dirt/grass for now, but depending on how many ducks you have that may not last long and may just become a mud pit.

We have 2 Pekin and 2 KC's. The Penkins seem alot more docile and enjoy bellly rubs while the KC are alittle more standoffish and run around like lunatics also they seem to enjoy the water alot more than the pekins.

 

[DuckyDonna]

I would leave the dirt/grass for now, but depending on how many ducks you have that may not last long and may just become a mud pit. I tend to throw down a few inches of straw and then rake it up when it gets mucky. It's not the best system, but it's the best I've got for now.

Yes, that's what I do too and I used it in the garden to mulch so it works out as dual purpose.

 

[PirateGirl]

We have 2 Pekin and 2 KC's. The Penkins seem alot more docile and enjoy bellly rubs while the KC are alittle more standoffish and run around like lunatics also they seem to enjoy the water alot more than the pekins.

My KCs are quick and skittish and like to do the torpedo action in the pool! Your ducks in that size space will likely turn it into a mud pit, but they will love it!

I also rotate the bedding a bit, when I dispose of the mucky stuff from the run, I put the soiled bedding from their house into the run, then I put the clean straw into the house. Sometimes the the straw from the duck run goes into the chicken run where the chickens break it down further. Eventually things end up in the garden. Good luck! They are going to love being outside so much!

 

[chickens really]

I use sand over a gravel base with drainage out in my Runs.