I use the deep litter method for my hens and it works well. Our ducks always free ranged in a large, fenced area, so I didn't have to deal with confined duck poops. :)

Velvet ~:>

I think it's better to keep them in separate housing if at all possible. When I had ducks and chickens together I free ranged them during the day but overnight and early morning the ducks would make such a mess out of the water in the coop, they would get it everywhere. I think it's best to keep your ducks outside as much as possible. I ended up using a large basin covered w/hardware cloth to set the waterer on. This way lots of the ducks droppings and splashed water got caught in the basin and not as much in the litter.

-Sheila

I keep them separate now for this reason. Ducks are messy. Mine get water outside only.

Yep! Our experience precisely! Our 4 runnesr share a coop with two hens (who roost high and tend to keep to themselves).

Our coop has as cement floor with a drain. I clean out all the bedding every week or every other, depending and scrub/spray down well with a light bit of enviro friendly detergent for good measure. (I can't STAND messy coops!). In the lower areas of their fenced yard, I use the deep litter method. It works well in the summer, but we have lots of rain in the winter so I pour it on pretty thick then and move it about to help mother nature rinse and compost it.

One thing I noticed - we switched from straw bedding to dry pasture grass this summer. We bought scythe and trid to make our own "hay" this summer with mixed results. (that durned rain!) OUr first few batches we dried up and just kept to just use for bedding. Probably not the most nutritious for eating, but I hate to waste it.

What we learned was that our grass hay smelled sweeter, absorbed more and will likely compost faster than the straw. It also dropped grass seed for the chickens to peck at or to hopefully populate grass growth inside the pen.

This winter we'll mix the grass hay with straw as I suspect it does not have the insulating factor that straw provides, but the grass hay certainly had its merits.

You'll notice the difference too, when your ducks start laying. OUr hens keep their nest box nice and tidy. I never fear putting my hand in there. The duck's nest box by contrast...ick!

good luck!

LF RJ