Mulch?

[DuckMom2022]

Hey all! I have 2 ducks that I have had for about 3 years. They have a 10 x 13 caged area with a house for nighttime safety. We don't free range them at all because of the hawks and turkey vultures. The Floor of the caged area is currently just dirt. We have had a TON of rain this year. I have been using a bit of straw to soak up some of the moisture. However, some of the low spots are getting a bit green and stay muddy. My neighbor had a tree cut down and she has a bunch of mulch she said I could have. Is this an ok thing to put down for their duck feeties? And will it help with the wet and mud? With all the rain and humidity, it just isn't drying up this year.

 

[ruthhope]

Hey all! I have 2 ducks that I have had for about 3 years. They have a 10 x 13 caged area with a house for nighttime safety. We don't free range them at all because of the hawks and turkey vultures. The Floor of the caged area is currently just dirt. We have had a TON of rain this year. I have been using a bit of straw to soak up some of the moisture. However, some of the low spots are getting a bit green and stay muddy. My neighbor had a tree cut down and she has a bunch of mulch she said I could have. Is this an ok thing to put down for their duck feeties? And will it help with the wet and mud? With all the rain and humidity, it just isn't drying up this year.

My son has your situation with 5 ducks in a 10x20 enclosure. He uses pine shavings, often soiled pine shavings dug out from his duck house.

Whether the shredded tree is safe depends on whether the shredded mulch is aged. It gets very hot in the first few months after shredding which is actually good to kill bacteria and parasites in the mulch. However you would have to spread it very thinly so as not to retain heat that might burn ducky feet.

I might be being too cautious, but I would accept the neighbor's shredded wood and leave it in a pile until it is aged and nolonger hot. Then use it: no problems for feet once it is aged. Meanwhile, use pine shavings to soak up the excess moisture in the enclosure

 

[DuckMom2022]

My son has your situation with 5 ducks in a 10x20 enclosure. He uses pine shavings, often soiled pine shavings dug out from his duck house.

Whether the shredded tree is safe depends on whether the shredded mulch is aged. It gets very hot in the first few months after shredding which is actually good to kill bacteria and parasites in the mulch. However you would have to spread it very thinly so as not to retain heat that might burn ducky feet.

I might be being too cautious, but I would accept the neighbor's shredded wood and leave it in a pile until it is aged and nolonger hot. Then use it: no problems for feet once it is aged. Meanwhile, use pine shavings to soak up the excess moisture in the enclosure

Great! Thank you so much!