What bedding and how often do you clean out your ducks?

[abidaby]

I'm going to line the floor with vinyl, I'm from the uk so would people suggest wood shavings or wood chip for the flooring of the shed that they will be in during the day? How often would you clean out the whole lot if I poop pick every day? I'm thinking of having three ducks. In the house that I'm going to keep them in to sleep, would straw be best? How often should this be cleaned out? How often would I have to disinfect everything? Sorry for all the questions just trying to get everything right before getting them!!
Abi

 

[Welshies]

Vinyl has lots of good reviews. My coop is wood with shavings and I strip clean, (hose and scrape) twice a year. I stir and spot pick daily. When needed I add some more shavings.

 

[Welshies]

Oh, and I don't like straw as it is less soft and IMO harder to clean. It doesn't absorb much. If you want it that's okay but please don't use hay, the mold can actually let off gases that can kill ducks.

 

[Quackalackin]

Wow! I'd did NOT know that about hay! I have been using excess hay from my donkeys for my indoor deep litter while using shavings around the water corner. I guess I'll buy some straw from Wilco today...

Do you have suggestions for bedding in outdoor runs?

As for cleaning, I had to change out the wood shavings around the water every day or two. A couple days ago I abolished water in their night time stall though because it was becoming a pain. So I feed dinner outside at least an hour before bed and they have unlimited water at that time, then no food or water in their nighttime area. The hay area I've just been trying out the deep litter method and haven't needed to clean it out yet. I've had my ducks a couple months now. I stir the hay pretty frequently while looking for eggs and add another layer every few days.

 

[Welshies]

Wow! I'd did NOT know that about hay! I have been using excess hay from my donkeys for my indoor deep litter while using shavings around the water corner. I guess I'll buy some straw from Wilco today...

Do you have suggestions for bedding in outdoor runs?

As for cleaning, I had to change out the wood shavings around the water every day or two. A couple days ago I abolished water in their night time stall though because it was becoming a pain. So I feed dinner outside at least an hour before bed and they have unlimited water at that time, then no food or water in their nighttime area. The hay area I've just been trying out the deep litter method and haven't needed to clean it out yet. I've had my ducks a couple months now. I stir the hay pretty frequently while looking for eggs and add another layer every few days.

A way to give them water with shavings is buy extra grit, put it in the bottom half of a plastic dog kennel, and put the water in there. Works awesome for me, no wet shavings! Unlimited water all the time increases egg production too.
I don't like bedding for outdoor runs. They should be able to access grass and bugs. I love to give them access to clover. If you are going to let them free range everyday, then pea gravel or sand in the outdoor run might work well. But I would say go natural in the outdoor areas.

 

[Athaid]

Aubiose and megazorb would both be good options. You could also use hemp, it's available here at www.zooplus.co.uk They ship all over the UK, Ireland and other parts of Europe.

 

[Amiga]

I add some chopped straw and leaves to the outdoor pen, occasionally stir it with a cultivator, it composts and makes a nice pleasant smelling base with the duck manure. Under the swim pans I have smooth pea gravel and sand, and occasionally oak leaves to reduce summer odor.

When the compost base gets pretty deep I scrape out a few inches for the garden and start over. I also scrape under the swim pans a couple times a year, and replace gravel and sand.

Here is the watering station for the night pen.

 

[gal5150]

I'm using smooth pea gravel for the outdoor run and it's an absolute dream so far....3 wks in and all I do is hose it down in the evening, takes all but 5 min. No smell, clean start for the girls each day, and the bonus of lots of baby sweet grass and clover poking through for grazing because of the fantastic fertilizer the ground is getting!

 

[Pollymacgua7733]

The advice on this thread has been great. Also could I please ask what kind of food you buy for your ducks? I am buying this at the moment? http://www.petshop.co.uk/Wild-Things-Swan-Duck-Food-5kg . Is there any better ones that you can think of?

 

[someguyhere]

I'm using smooth pea gravel for the outdoor run and it's an absolute dream so far....3 wks in and all I do is hose it down in the evening, takes all but 5 min. No smell, clean start for the girls each day, and the bonus of lots of baby sweet grass and clover poking through for grazing because of the fantastic fertilizer the ground is getting!

I like this idea, we keep our ducks outside but my wife is really allergic to hay and straw so she is always miserable but she would never give up her little ducks for anything already. ..... does anyone else use pea gravel ? we started with pine shavings but something I read somewhere made me change my mind, not sure what that was now though lol. only 5 weeks into raising duckilings and its been a lot of fun a work researching everything