What type of hay?

[DuckDuckSook]

Hello Duck Lovers!

I'm just planning out my brooder and coop right now. What type of hay do you use in your brooder or coop? Is a certain type better than another? What about straw? I have a farm near me that sells quality hay that we used to visit often when we had guinea pigs. I know they have alfalfa, orchard grass, timothy, etc. Thanks!

 

[Miss Lydia]

@DuckyDonna

 

[casportpony]

Hello Duck Lovers!

What about straw? I have a farm near me that sells quality hay that we used to visit often when we had guinea pigs. I know they have alfalfa, orchard grass, timothy, etc. Thanks!

Hi there, welcome to BYC!
If you want to use it for bedding, use wheat straw, do not use hay. For some reason, when hay gets wet, it ferments and gets moldier quicker than straw does.

I'm just planning out my brooder and coop right now. What type of hay do you use in your brooder or coop?

In my brooder I use towels, then I might switch to pine pellets when they get older. No straw in the brooder.

 

[Dougdilman]

When i tried hay my hens would never leave the coop, they scratched all day looking for seeds in the hay

 

[Miss Lydia]

I’d think they could begin eating it too which could cause issues.

 

[casportpony]

I’d think they could begin eating it too which could cause issues.

Yeah, I worry a little about that too.

When i tried hay my hens would never leave the coop, they scratched all day looking for seeds in the hay

So do mine! Some of my ducks spend most of the day rooting through the oat hay that has fallen off of the haystack. Some even like to get on top of the bales and pick the seeds out!

 

[chickens really]

Pine shavings in the Brooder are best with Ducks. Ducks are definitely to wet poopy for straw. Hay is feed for livestock.

 

[chickens really]

When i tried hay my hens would never leave the coop, they scratched all day looking for seeds in the hay

Ducks don't scratch around in bedding. Are you talking chickens?

 

[Dougdilman]

Ducks don't scratch around in bedding. Are you talking chickens?

Yeah actualy i was when i seid hens i meant chickens Whoops. The ducks dig in for seeds too all day picking at them

Ive pulled a big long peice out of my ducks crop though

 

[chickens really]

Yeah actualy i was when i seid hens i meant chickens Whoops. The ducks dig in for seeds too all day picking at them

Ive pulled a big long peice out of my ducks crop though

Noodling and scratching around is a different concept of chickens and Ducks.