Oil Dry

[OldGuy43]

So the quackers are about 2 months old and doing well. Is there any reason I can't use oil dry in their grow out pen? It's a concrete floor and a real pain to keep clean and dry.

 

[gickelvolk]

I wouldn't at any cost. Oil-dry contains Bentonite. Bentonite is an absorbent aluminum phyllosilicate, essentially impure clay base and a composite of aluminum base silicates. It's most commonly used as a mixture for dirt surrounding foundations to assist in preventing water retention around concrete.

If eaten it would swell with moisture and plug the crop.

Try using some kiln dried pine shavings (flakes). This will be absorbent and help with the odor....

 

[Amiga]

What about linoleum under several inches of shavings? You might be able to get linoleum scraps from a flooring contractor. The shavings absorb quite a bit especially if they are stirred every day.

Also, as you know I think, keeping water and food sequestered from the rest of the bedding reduces slop.

 

[Oregon Blues]

It would be very bad for the ducks to eat any of it.

The best way to reduce mess is to have your waterers set up so that the ducks can not spill water out into their bedding.

If it is a concrete floor, seal it with a product that is intended to make concrete non-absorbent. Shavings work for a duck pen if you clean often enough so that a gummy mess doesn't get stuck to the floor. Even that can be scraped up.

 

[OldGuy43]

Not meaning to sound argumentative, but has anyone ever lost a duck because it ate oil dry.

 

[wildpeas]

My husband says oil dry is basically a dusty cat litter and it would be unsafe to use with ducks.

No one may have lost any ducks on it mostly because no one would ever use it when there are safer alternatives.

 

[Mum]

I use a hemp based bedding material and its a case of pooper scooping the lumps and then shovelling out the damp patches.

Trouble with ducklings (and chicks!) is, they will nibble/eat pretty much anything: their own excrement, bedding, my coat, zipper, shoes, my face, my hair

My 2 1/2 week old duckling even tried to eat a bee when we were in the exercise yard a couple of days ago!

Better to be safe than sorry is my motto.

 

[Oregon Blues]

Quote:

I don't know anyone who has lost a duck because it ate oil dry because I don't know anyone stupid enough to use oil dry for duck bedding.

I do, however, know a couple of people who had dogs die from eating clumping cat litter.

If you want to put your ducks on something that will absorb moisture and turn into mud, just put dirt in the bottom of their brooder. When they eat the dirt, all that will happen is that it will act like grit in their crop. It won't form blockages in their digestive tract.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I really don't think I would want to take a chance..