Best Bedding for Ducks

Bedding is the material used on the ground inside an animal enclosure. My duck house is fully enclosed from predators, but still in the open air. One entire "wall" section is made from hardware cloth (1/2 inch square wire mesh), so the ground can still get wet inside.

Over the years, I've used several different kinds of bedding, but I haven't had a favorite until now. Here's the rundown:

• Natural soil (not using any bedding at all)
• A bale of hay
• A bale/ bag of chopped straw
• Wood shavings like these Fresh Flakes 
• Lawn clippings from fresh cut grass

Of all these options, they have the same benefits and drawbacks. They're easy to spread and look nice immediately. Duck poop is covered quickly and any smell dissipates pretty fast. The ducks love to spread the hay with their bills. They generally have a nesting area, sleeping space and spot that stays wet near their pool.

Unfortunately, they poop pretty much anywhere and then walk over it with their flat feet, spreading it and there goes the clean house. The other beddings work well for chickens because they constantly till the ground. The ducks are the opposite. They flatten everything like a 10-layer cake.

We hosted a some family events over the summer, so the farmette had to look as close to Better Homes & Gardens as possible. I opted to try wood pellets, the same kind you use for a pellet stove or smoker BBQ. I got five bags and was able to spread them evenly. My little quackers were confused. "Is this food?"

​Two months later, some of the pellets have broken down. They look like sawdust now. There is still no smell and the pellets miraculously absorb the poop. I try to keep the pellets as dry as possible and that's it! It's a miracle! I think pellets keep the animals happy too, because no one wants to live in a dirty house. It's unsanitary and can make them sick.

When I do my BIG fall clean-up and clean out the garden bed, I'll also put some fresh pellets into the duck house. Don't tell my chickens though; wouldn't want them to get jealous.