Sand as substrate in duck coop

[Soos-Quacken]

Up until now we’ve been primarily using straw as substrate for our ducks. However we’ve been having issues with flies and smell, so I’m wondering if sand would be a better choice for bedding?

 

[DuckyDonna]

Up until now we’ve been primarily using straw as substrate for our ducks. However we’ve been having issues with flies and smell, so I’m wondering if sand would be a better choice for bedding?

I would say it would not be a good idea for use in their pen where they sleep. Is that what you were talking about or are you talking about their run where they are outside all day?

 

[Soos-Quacken]

They sleep up on a balcony I made next to their pond, so this’d be in the run aria

 

[Soos-Quacken]

However they do spend most of their time free-ranging and I’m really only planning on putting sand in the enclosed run

 

[DuckyDonna]

I know some on here use sand I believe but I have no experience with that. I block off areas of my run and seed with grass seed. When it grows I let the ducks in there and block off another area. I'm on my last area now and in a couple of weeks, my whole flock will be in there and it will all be grass.

 

[nennings]

Up until now we’ve been primarily using straw as substrate for our ducks. However we’ve been having issues with flies and smell, so I’m wondering if sand would be a better choice for bedding?

We use sand in our run and it has been amazing! NO smell...no bugs. I have a cat litter scoop that I use once a week but otherwise our 3 ducks poop just kinda 'melts' away in to the sand. And no worries about splashed water from drinking..playing..or any rain the blows in.

 

[Ratchnick]

How deep is your sand? Also how big is the area? Do you hose it down?

 

[CrystaBub]

I use sand in my run in the warm seasons - we use PDZ horse stall refresher granules mixed with play sand. I love it - no mess, no smell. I keep it about 1-2 inches deep. My husband rigged up a kitty litter scooper on the end of a broom handle - makes scooping really easy. I scoop several times each day. I never hose it down and don't keep a pool in that part of their living area. I think if it gets wet it would be a lot messier. I keep their food and water on a cloth peepee pad which sits on a plastic kennel tray - so it doesn't spill over to the sand.

 

[Ratchnick]

How many ducks in how large a pen?

 

[Flockincrazy]

Up until now we’ve been primarily using straw as substrate for our ducks. However we’ve been having issues with flies and smell, so I’m wondering if sand would be a better choice for bedding?

Wood chips and sand are best for just ducks and in the run play sand and uncolored mulch