Run bedding

[quackfishing]

Sorry if this has been discussed before. Is there any bedding I can put in my duck run that doesn’t need to replaced? Like wood chips but not as sharp? I see people use pine shaving (I use them in my coop) but those seem to have to be replaced and stay wet for a long time. Any suggestions?

 

[fatty and friends]

not sure exactly what kind of pebbles they are, but i know a few people who use small pebbles in their duck run and just hose the run down daily (personally i don't do this)

not sure what the pebbles are called but they are a certain kind that won't cause bumble foot

 

[shawluvsbirds]

Sorry if this has been discussed before. Is there any bedding I can put in my duck run that doesn’t need to replaced? Like wood chips but not as sharp? I see people use pine shaving (I use them in my coop) but those seem to have to be replaced and stay wet for a long time. Any suggestions?

Research deep litter method. With ducks though they don't scratch around and you have to get in there and stir it up.

There isn't a great solution that I have found. Unless you are willing and able to hose off all the poo every day your gonna want a substrate that will absorb some of the yuck. Deep litter method is the best I've come up with so far.

 

[shawluvsbirds]

not sure exactly what kind of pebbles they are, but i know a few people who use small pebbles in their duck run and just hose the run down daily (personally i don't do this)

not sure what the pebbles are called but they are a certain kind that won't cause bumble foot

Like pea gravel or river rock. I had some smooth river rock in part of my run. They made it their personal mission to throw it all in the pond and clog my drain.
And it got pretty nasty between cleanings.
Preventing bumble is part preventing them from walking on sharp stuff and part keeping them from walking around in feces.

 

[ruthhope]

Where are you? If you are in a state with live oaks or similar, you can use live oak leaves [or water ok/laurel oak] I collect them from round my neighborhood in March and use a deep layer on my garden where my ducks free range. The ducks love them -- foraging for bugs and scattering the piles when I am first tipping the sacks out. I put another layer out on top at the beginning of September and have more stored for renewing in late December.

I find this so effective, this year I invested in big wheelie bins to store the leaves as black plastic trash bags start to deteriorate after a few months in Florida heat. The photo shows the leaves earlier this year. If you have a run smaller than my back yard, you wont need to gather as many leaves as me!! Second photo my van with gathered leaves from March 2021

 

[quackfishing]

Where are you? If you are in a state with live oaks or similar, you can use live oak leaves [or water ok/laurel oak] I collect them from round my neighborhood in March and use a deep layer on my garden where my ducks free range. The ducks love them -- foraging for bugs and scattering the piles when I am first tipping the sacks out. I put another layer out on top at the beginning of September and have more stored for renewing in late December.

I find this so effective, this year I invested in big wheelie bins to store the leaves as black plastic trash bags start to deteriorate after a few months in Florida heat. The photo shows the leaves earlier this year. If you have a run smaller than my back yard, you wont need to gather as many leaves as me!! Second photo my van with gather leaves from March 2021

This looks good but I do live in west Texas so it is a desert I can probably still find some though. I’m in between this and pine shavings. I really just want to make the ground softer and their feet, and mor importantly, have less flies. I think I might plant mint also- I know it speeds like weeds but it’ll keep flies away and I don’t have other plants in the run for it to choke.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Pine shaving will work too just aren't free. In winter I take the spent shavings from the coops and spread them out on the ground to make a soft area for laying and keeps them off the snow some. Then in spring, it has decomposed enough to use for planting and mulch.

 

[DukesDucks]

There has been some wild weather here. Two consecutive weekends with snow storms, followed the third weekend with a thaw and lots of rain. Consequently the duck run is squishy wet. With usual winter conditions I can keep it in better condition by adding the shavings I am removing from the coop. I am considering layering the run with cedar boughs then adding shavings on top. Thoughts or other suggestions.

 

[shawluvsbirds]

There has been some wild weather here. Two consecutive weekends with snow storms, followed the third weekend with a thaw and lots of rain. Consequently the duck run is squishy wet. With usual winter conditions I can keep it in better condition by adding the shavings I am removing from the coop. I am considering layering the run with cedar boughs then adding shavings on top. Thoughts or other suggestions.

Straw works best for me in the run during this kind of weather. I'll use a mixture of pine shavings with the straw in houses to help absorb moisture, but i find pine shavings useless in the run wherebit will get wet.

 

[Miss Lydia]

There has been some wild weather here. Two consecutive weekends with snow storms, followed the third weekend with a thaw and lots of rain. Consequently the duck run is squishy wet. With usual winter conditions I can keep it in better condition by adding the shavings I am removing from the coop. I am considering layering the run with cedar boughs then adding shavings on top. Thoughts or other suggestions.

If the cedar will be soft on their feet why not give it a try. Inside the coop would be a No no because of the oils from the cedar is not good for them to breathe but outside in the run shouldn’t cause any problems.