Astro turf?

[chickens really]

There are so many different kinds of sand... we found "river sand" at our local rock yard... what kind do you use?

I don't know..It's called Hawaiian something?..Any washed sand is good..I don't think it matters as long as its sand..

 

[CarleeAnn]

I told my husband to go get sand and he got play sand!

But we used it and it works.

 

[chickens really]

I told my husband to go get sand and he got play sand!

But we used it and it works.

That's fine sand.....

 

[GossChicks]

My chicken run was getting muddy my second year using it.
My dad loaned me his small wood chipper and I made wood chips from Alder brush growing on the edge of my yard.
Works great and I stockpiled some for adding this year.
It's cheap, natural, and works well.
You can buy wood chips or rent a small chipper and make your own.
I will not put Astro turf in my run. No thanks!

How about in the coop under the roost where they are just sleeping?

 

[littlecollier]

Quick question about the river-rocks as a no-no comment @DuckGirl77 - We are planning to build a small pond that is lined with river rocks and feathers out with them to the surrounding dirt and grass. (Hard to explain, inspiration picture below - Ours will be MUCH smaller). Will that be suitable for ducks or do I need to cook up a new plan?

Also, I've been reading so many different opinions on brooder lining, can you use sand and scoop or do they need pine shavings while they're little?

Still designing our outside coop, so I'm glad to be reading peoples' thoughts and experiences so I have something to draw from (and not just my rainbow and sunshine imagination where loads of poop don't exist!)

 

[CarleeAnn]

Quick question about the river-rocks as a no-no comment @DuckGirl77 - We are planning to build a small pond that is lined with river rocks and feathers out with them to the surrounding dirt and grass. (Hard to explain, inspiration picture below - Ours will be MUCH smaller). Will that be suitable for ducks or do I need to cook up a new plan?

Also, I've been reading so many different opinions on brooder lining, can you use sand and scoop or do they need pine shavings while they're little?

Still designing our outside coop, so I'm glad to be reading peoples' thoughts and experiences so I have something to draw from (and not just my rainbow and sunshine imagination where loads of poop don't exist!)

I would use pine shavings in the brooder, but you can change to sand to scoop once they’re older.

You may want to consider something other than rocks too because ducks are susceptible to bumble foot. Maybe do rocks with an overlay of sand?

 

[Kasilofchrisn]

How about in the coop under the roost where they are just sleeping?

In my coop I use pine shavings I buy from a local store.
Here in AK $12.40 buys me a bag big enough for 2 coop cleanings of my 4x8 coop which is one month's worth.

 

[DuckGrrrl77]

Quick question about the river-rocks as a no-no comment @DuckGirl77 - We are planning to build a small pond that is lined with river rocks and feathers out with them to the surrounding dirt and grass. (Hard to explain, inspiration picture below - Ours will be MUCH smaller). Will that be suitable for ducks or do I need to cook up a new plan?

Also, I've been reading so many different opinions on brooder lining, can you use sand and scoop or do they need pine shavings while they're little?

Still designing our outside coop, so I'm glad to be reading peoples' thoughts and experiences so I have something to draw from (and not just my rainbow and sunshine imagination where loads of poop don't exist!)

I would not use ANY rocks! Most of our ducks steered clear, but we lost one because she ate so many rocks she stopped eating and couldn't pass them. There's not much on the internet regarding the subject, but I am telling you from personal experience to save you from the heartache we have gone through.

 

[DuckGrrrl77]

I put the river rock down thinking it would help reduce the transfer of sand into their pond and coop, but I didn't want to put it all over because I had read about rocks causing bumblefoot. I thought it looked nice and gave them the choice of a variety of surfaces to walk on. Paid a lot of money for that rock, and hand-shoveled it in (and back out) of there!

 

[DuckGrrrl77]

Quick question about the river-rocks as a no-no comment @DuckGirl77 - We are planning to build a small pond that is lined with river rocks and feathers out with them to the surrounding dirt and grass. (Hard to explain, inspiration picture below - Ours will be MUCH smaller). Will that be suitable for ducks or do I need to cook up a new plan?

Also, I've been reading so many different opinions on brooder lining, can you use sand and scoop or do they need pine shavings while they're little?

Still designing our outside coop, so I'm glad to be reading peoples' thoughts and experiences so I have something to draw from (and not just my rainbow and sunshine imagination where loads of poop don't exist!)

Btw, I also use pine shavings inside their roost/coop where they sleep. The pond is set in the deck so we could run a 4" pipe underneath for drainage... just pull the plug and viola!