What does everyone use for bedding in their duck coop?

[SassyKat6181]

I split my coop in half for the chickens and ducks to separated.....too much wetness! They will share an outdoor run that I have almost completed, just need to hang the net. The sawdust that I am using for the coops is getting really gross on the duck side. They splash water everywhere and there is always a huge wet mess under the waterer. Is there a better bedding to put in there that will be better for them and easier to clean? I tried to make them a bed area with straw and by morning it was strewn all over the place. Should I make a box on the floor to contain the straw?

 

[duckyfromoz]

Over the next two weekends- I am revamping my night pens and flooring. I need to remove and replace the lino and make the whole area bigger to include inside breeding pens. I have found what I have used in the past very successful so am going with the same again - heres what I have:

Large 4 car garage with cement floor- Lino on the floor inside the pen area which is toped with a layer of shavings - then hay on the top of that. I find that after a few days to a week- the soiled hay can be simply rolled off the shavings for removal. I can then remove the badly soiled areas of shavings- and then top up again- before spreading around more hay over the top again. The area is currently in an "L " shape - with the water being up in the corner of the shorter section. I stop the hay and shavings just short of where the water is- and leave a bucket inside another plastic container to try to catch some of the drips and mess. The area directly around the water does get messy and I have to clean it every day - but it takes only a minute to grab the shovel and remove the waste. I used to have hay and shaving right up to the water- but found once they got waterlogged the whole pen would get wet faster as well - so try to keep a buffer area around the water now. I only give them a bucket for water at night to try to reduce the mess- its good for drinking- but they cant get in to wash or swim.

This works for me- but I know in an outdoor coop your set up would be very different - but the principal of keeping a buffer zone around the water so the sleeping area doesnt get wet may still be a useful idea for you.

 

[SassyKat6181]

I originally had two horse stalls that I removed the center wall from so the chickens had a really large coop (12 w x24 l x 8 h). After adding 14 ducks and 16 chickens to the 12 chickens I started with last fall, I had to make a change. So I put a half wall down the center to separate the chickens and ducks. The brooders are set up on the ducks side, including the new chicks until they get big enough to go in the with older hens. I read in another post that I could use sand in the duck coop? The shavings and straw are just too messy. I am almost done with the outdoor run as the weather has finally been getting warmer here. We have a 3-rail fence around the outdoor ring attached to the two coops. I nailed 2x3 welded wire fence to it all the way around (to keep the chickens and ducks in during the day) and am in the process of putting flight netting over the top. The outdoor run measures 90x40. I was only going to do half, but figured with the ducks and new chicks now I better do the whole thing. This is strictly for daytime use and everyone will be locked in the coop before dark. We have way too many predators around here to risk them being out at night. I am hoping that with them out during the day and playing in their pool, that it will keep the coop mess down a bit.

 

[MissusDee]

I use wheat straw, and compost it and use it in the garden later.

 

[maralynn28]

I don't feel bad changing out the hay as I use it for compost! Also, I use DE in with the hay to reduce wetness/ chance of flies or buggies.

 

[Raybob]

I use straw, then when it is dirty, i put it in the Garden

 

[mominoz]

My duck and goose pens have "pond pebbles/rock" I got a pickup load (1/2 off because it had some gravelly stuff in it).and have it in the aviary and the mini-duck pen. I just hose it down once a week or more. (I also have a well). I put straw or leftover hay my horses don't eat in Rubbermaid bins for nests. If I had it to do again and $ I would have put cement down and pressed the rock or pea gravel in it. I do get some mud in my aviary, because it is a bit thin in some areas..... It is on a bit of a slope and sometimes I have to rake it some and sometimes goop gets stuck in the hardware cloth. I wish i'd used cage wire bigger, then it would hose thru better. I did cut some of the hardware cloth off and put in mini gates to hose thru, that I can close with hardware cloth on them too.

 

[hennyannie]

Try some of that pellet type horse bedding under what ever you use, it absorbs moisture like mad. I don't wet it beforehand, just put it down and then use shavings or straw etc.

 

[SassyKat6181]

Good thought on the pellets....I'll look into that. The stall has a stone dust floor, and I'm wondering if I'd be better off just tossing some hay or straw over it instead of the shavings. This week when I get the run finished I need to strip both sides anyway while everyone is outside. Thanks for all the input.

 

[xke4]

pine shavings and straw