4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[Dave36]

Can someone tell me what if anything i should use in the ducks walk in run?? I have 3 ducks and they are poooooing for england, at the moment they are on grass and ievery couple of nights i go out and hose it all away

soon i will let them have some time for free ranging but are only 10 weeks old

I dont want them laying in it

 

what do you use?

 

Thank you

Dave

[Lesley]

I use straw in the base of their house but ours are in a long grassy run so I'm not sure what you would use in the run. Perhaps Aubiose or Hemcore? How big is the run?

 

Ducks make twice as much mess as hens

[Dave36]

its about 12ft by 8ft we have 3 ducks, at the moment they are on naural grass, but sooo much poo lol like i say i hose it down but come the winter then what shall i do, i thought grass was needed by ducks?

 

Dave

[Lesley]

Could you section the run so that they can use one side and then the other? That might work if one half is left for grass to regrow and poo to degrade.

 

We have 4 ducks in a 30ft x 10ft run - it gets a bit muddy through winter as the land drains through part of it but they keep most of the grass and the poo is well spread, so we don't have to consider what else we could do.

 

Some of the Aubiose or horse bedding may help?

[bessandra]

Hi Dave

 

I'm interested in your postings -your ducks are a little older than mine so you are a few steps ahead of me!

 

What did you decide for flooring? I see that alot of people on the chook sections are using the rubber chippings for flooring but I cant see how this absorbs anything and I have no intention of going and picking up 5 hens poo every day (its bad enough for two labradors ) I kind of assumed ducks would be happy on any flooring...isnt grass a brucey bonus, like it is for hens, and my hens certainly arent on grass in their walk in run - its mud, glorious mud!

 

Rachel

[Guest]

Hi

Duck poo is easier to see but yep ducks are very messy

 

Can you let them free range safely now? They should be ok as long as you are out with them ie foxes etc

 

Whereas chickens scratch ducks like to use their bills to have a good rummage so I am sure it will end up muddy I cant imagine useing horse bedding in a duck run due to them using their bills but the horse bedding would be ok in the house

 

Good luck

indie

[Dave36]

Hi All

 

I think what i will try as the weather gets a bit wetter is.

 

Half the run will be grass and mud and poo, the other half i will lay down some straw on top of a slightly raised platform made of bamboo fencing, this way at least it will keep them a little dry and a lot easier to muck out. and will allow the grass to grow underneath for the following season, (hopefully)

 

Thats what im going to try anyway

 

Dave