Well I'm convinced! Bedding Pellets

[Going Quackers]

So I finally after what, forever saying i was going to try the pellet bedding in the duck barn.. now i am not unfamiliar with this stuff i use it for the horses and the rabbits but i dunno, for some reason i held off with the ducks...

I've had them in the barn for a week now... what a difference! and for the sake of explanation .. i do keep feed/water with them overnight.. I also put it in with my youngest trio(about a month old)

Now at first the ducks thought i was crazy, not even kidding all my young ones 3mths next week all starred standing outside the barn as i dumped/poured these odd pellets down.. it was actually pretty funny

then when they came in they did taste test but quickly abandoned that notion.

So my point is, give it a try! it'll not only save on bedding but it smells better, is cleaner and is faster/easier to clean up... now mine is mixed with some shavings as i was not about to clean out the whole barn but i like this mixed method, it's what i do for the horses.

So there you have it, pellets are worth it.. don't be afraid.

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

LoL glad you finally tried them

 

[Miss Lydia]

I noticed pellets are more expensive , are they worth the extra money?

 

[zooweemama]

How are they easier to clean up than hay? Seems like more shoveling with hay- I can use the pitchfork and grab a large amount? I'd love something that smelled better than hay. Deep litter method is not going to work in the winter here. It's very rainy here then.

 

[harriedhomemaker]

Yes! I was just about to post about this very topic. I am AMAZED at the difference that pine pellets vs. shavings has made. I cleaned out the duck house and added pellets and some Sweet PDZ last weekend and everything is still clean.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Yes! I was just about to post about this very topic. I am AMAZED at the difference that pine pellets vs. shavings has made. I cleaned out the duck house and added pellets and some Sweet PDZ last weekend and everything is still clean.

So sounds like it is worth the extra money , I use deep litter so I would be mixing the pellets into the shavings and I also use PDZ, Most days I can go in with the shovel and turn the bedding and it's pretty smell free but would like to still try the pellets.

 

[Going Quackers]

I noticed pellets are more expensive , are they worth the extra money?

Here a standard bag of shavings is 5$ the pellet bedding is 6$ so it's only an extra dollar, i find i need to add less new bedding vs using shavings alone.

 

[Going Quackers]

How are they easier to clean up than hay? Seems like more shoveling with hay- I can use the pitchfork and grab a large amount? I'd love something that smelled better than hay. Deep litter method is not going to work in the winter here. It's very rainy here then.

Never used hay, it's too pricey up to 5$ for a square bale and besides i don't think it's water resistant at all, if anything it becomes a soaked, heavy mess.. cleaned up enough of it out in the field leftover from the horses.

How i clean with this pellet/shaving combo is remove any obvious droppings and stir. Adding a bit of fresh pellets after a few days or if there is an extremely wet area.

 

[Going Quackers]

LoL glad you finally tried them

About time, right?

Yes! I was just about to post about this very topic. I am AMAZED at the difference that pine pellets vs. shavings has made. I cleaned out the duck house and added pellets and some Sweet PDZ last weekend and everything is still clean.

It is unreal, i wish i had tried it sooner, honestly.

 

[zooweemama]

My coop is basically a 10x10- how many bags would you suggest. I would try it with some PDZ. I am due for a FULL coop clean up this weekend so it would be the perfect time to try something new. I have 14 ducks in there from 8pm-9am.