Run substrate for winter climate.

[Ratchnick]

I have been watching how my dad manages his ducks and planning how to manage mine which are coming in April. (Duckling pics i promise)

He used pea gravel which worked great in the summer. In the winter he puts straw on top. And keeps layering it. I stoped by the other day and noticed that there was over a foot of straw in the run but i still saw issues.

Massive ice around water buckets
Popsicles around buckets and feeders
The run had a mild smell, in summer 0 smell

This is his first winter with ducks but i foresee the following problems.

He will have to muck that straw out this spring

He will have trouble disposing of the waste because of the volume, and composting is very slow (2-3 years) in our cold climate

Straw is $16 a bale here, more then i would like too spend.


So I'm wondering about wood chips. I can get them free from several places. Will they freeze solid like the gravel or will i be able to turn them in the winter in a covered run?

 

[Isaac 0]

I have been using wood chips in my run for the past year or so, I can only say good things about using it too. My wood chips only feeze on the top inch or so, once the weather warm's I turn it with a pitchfork to increase decomposition and to help disperse waste into the wood chips. It's currently black/brown right now as the excessive amounts of nitrogen/waste has decomposed it into black gold, which I'm going to use in the garden this summer. My run leaks water on occasion, but the wood chips seem to drain very well and absorb. There is absolutely no smell in the run either.

Straw will turn into a slimy wet mess in a run and not to mention takes forever to decompose and hauling the straw in the spring will about break your back. My birds have not suffered from any foot-related problems due to the wood chips either.

 

[chickens really]

I have a covered run. Sand as my flooring and only one corner with straw for them in the Run. I use pine shavings in their house with a bit of straw added.
I feed and water outside in the Run also.
Straw gets pretty yucky and the smell is terrible..

 

[Ratchnick]

I have a covered run. Sand as my flooring and only one corner with straw for them in the Run. I use pine shavings in their house with a bit of straw added.
I feed and water outside in the Run also.
Straw gets pretty yucky and the smell is terrible..

Does your sand freeze into a block in winter? How do you clean it in winter?

 

[chickens really]

Does your sand freeze into a block in winter? How do you clean it in winter?

I rake out what I can. It freezes a bit although not too bad either. Once it thaws I use a hand tiller and mix it all up again. Being its covered it works alright..

 

[Ratchnick]

I have been using wood chips in my run for the past year or so, I can only say good things about using it too. My wood chips only feeze on the top inch or so, once the weather warm's I turn it with a pitchfork to increase decomposition and to help disperse waste into the wood chips. It's currently black/brown right now as the excessive amounts of nitrogen/waste has decomposed it into black gold, which I'm going to use in the garden this summer. My run leaks water on occasion, but the wood chips seem to drain very well and absorb. There is absolutely no smell in the run either.

Straw will turn into a slimy wet mess in a run and not to mention takes forever to decompose and hauling the straw in the spring will about break your back. My birds have not suffered from any foot-related problems due to the wood chips either.

How deep are your chips?

 

[Isaac 0]

How deep are your chips?

Around seven or so inches.

 

[DuckyDonna]

I have been using wood chips in my run for the past year or so, I can only say good things about using it too. My wood chips only feeze on the top inch or so, once the weather warm's I turn it with a pitchfork to increase decomposition and to help disperse waste into the wood chips. It's currently black/brown right now as the excessive amounts of nitrogen/waste has decomposed it into black gold, which I'm going to use in the garden this summer. My run leaks water on occasion, but the wood chips seem to drain very well and absorb. There is absolutely no smell in the run either.

Straw will turn into a slimy wet mess in a run and not to mention takes forever to decompose and hauling the straw in the spring will about break your back. My birds have not suffered from any foot-related problems due to the wood chips either.

I was wondering about the feet issues using wood chips because of all the small sticks that are mixed into it. I've been thinking about using them if the grass doesn't grow in there. You only use it in your run and not your pen right?

Our local dump has mountains of wood chips for free. Of course, you've got to load it in your trailer or truck and then unload when you get home but it's free and perfectly good to use. I'm planning on doing a wood chip vegetable garden this year. We got a load on Saturday and I unloaded the whole trailer load onto an island under my cherry trees which needed it bad.

 

[Isaac 0]

I was wondering about the feet issues using wood chips because of all the small sticks that are mixed into it. I've been thinking about using them if the grass doesn't grow in there. You only use it in your run and not your pen right?

Our local dump has mountains of wood chips for free. Of course, you've got to load it in your trailer or truck and then unload when you get home but it's free and perfectly good to use. I'm planning on doing a wood chip vegetable garden this year. We got a load on Saturday and I unloaded the whole trailer load onto an island under my cherry trees which needed it bad.

I only use it in the run, My birds are free-range so I don't have a pen. I use straw inside the coop.

 

[Ratchnick]

What's the difference between a run and a pen?