Backyard debris

[jessica7rch]

Hi there. I'm new to Backyard birds, and this forum. I have two ducks who have a predator proof hutch and run. But I've always intended to allow them to free-roam the yard while I'm with them.
The problem I have is: my property is over 100 years old (city setting) and as much as I've tried, I cannot get rid of foreign debris in my yard. I can't dig deep enough without finding old broken concrete and sometimes trash (plastic, glass). I've worked really hard to get rid of the big chunks - but it's looking impossible, at this point, to completely rid my yard of small bits of concrete and debris.
I've had my girls for 8 weeks now and they've been restricted to their hutch/run until I could make the yard safe.

Am I being too paranoid? Should I not be as worried about them foraging around some debris? Any input would be very much appreciated.

 

[MeepBeep]

Most of the foreign debris is harmless to the birds... Pick up the obvious on the surface and more dangerous things like strings or plastic bags and you should be fine...

 

[Debs Flock]

Hi Jessica! Welcome to BYC!

Ditto post #2. Just to reassure you...my ducks have found plastic buttons, an old barrette and other odd things that I didn't even know were in my yard. The are like toddlers and they nibble everything, typically multiple times, but once they figure out it isn't edible, they drop it. They do the same thing with rocks. It's actually funny seeing all 4 pick up the same thing, give it a taste, drop it and then another duck does the same thing.

 

[JadeComputerGal]

Hi there. I'm new to Backyard birds, and this forum. I have two ducks who have a predator proof hutch and run. But I've always intended to allow them to free-roam the yard while I'm with them.
The problem I have is: my property is over 100 years old (city setting) and as much as I've tried, I cannot get rid of foreign debris in my yard. I can't dig deep enough without finding old broken concrete and sometimes trash (plastic, glass). I've worked really hard to get rid of the big chunks - but it's looking impossible, at this point, to completely rid my yard of small bits of concrete and debris.
I've had my girls for 8 weeks now and they've been restricted to their hutch/run until I could make the yard safe.

Am I being too paranoid? Should I not be as worried about them foraging around some debris? Any input would be very much appreciated.

Jessica, first of all, welcome to BYC, and I hope you'll hang around and let us know how things are going. There are a lot of ducks out there that could use a mom like you.

I mostly agree with Meeps and Deb, but I'd be concerned if I were you and keep trying to pick up bits of things as you have time. The broken glass is what I find most concerning, especially if it's in small pieces they might eat.Stepping on it wouldn't be much fun, either, for you or them.

If you're going to be with them, try to keep them confined to the area you know is the cleanest and just keep an eye on them. You might even put up some pet gate in a certain area if you don't have flying ducks.

You want to examine them as they go back into their run at night. The hubby and I had a terrible scare with one of ours early this year. We went out in the morning and one was thrashing around and making a noise I've never heard before. We couldn't see a single thing wrong with her until picking her up and running our hands all over her with her fighting us like a wildcat the whole time. I had to really dig into her feathers to figure out what was wrong.

She had somehow gotten a very fine, almost transparent, strand of thread from a sandbag wound all the way around her throat and over her head, so every movement was choking her. She was fine after we got it off, but I shudder to think what would have happened if we hadn't caught it quickly.

 

[JadeComputerGal]

Hi Jessica! Welcome to BYC!

Ditto post #2. Just to reassure you...my ducks have found plastic buttons, an old barrette and other odd things that I didn't even know were in my yard. The are like toddlers and they nibble everything, typically multiple times, but once they figure out it isn't edible, they drop it. They do the same thing with rocks. It's actually funny seeing all 4 pick up the same thing, give it a taste, drop it and then another duck does the same thing.

LOL, Deb. With all the weirdness you're finding in your yard, have you considered getting a metal detector? You never know.

 

[Debs Flock]

LOL, Deb. With all the weirdness you're finding in your yard, have you considered getting a metal detector? You never know.

HA...no, maybe I should. We're on 2 acres and only the second owners of the property. Who knows what the first family put out there.

 

[JadeComputerGal]

HA...no, maybe I should. We're on 2 acres and only the second owners of the property. Who knows what the first family put out there.

My dad used to be hugely into the metal detector stuff. He found bits of things worth keeping here and there, but he also found an expensive Kentucky cluster ring he still wears to this day.

 

[jtn42248]

Pay particular attention to anything shiny that catches the sun. Especially early a.m. or at dusk when the sun angle makes things glitter. My ducks mostly, but the chickens and geese, are really attracted to shiny things and if you think of their mouth as a hand they have to pick everything up and examine it.

 

[JadeComputerGal]

Pay particular attention to anything shiny that catches the sun. Especially early a.m. or at dusk when the sun angle makes things glitter. My ducks mostly, but the chickens and geese, are really attracted to shiny things and if you think of their mouth as a hand they have to pick everything up and examine it.

Yep, and glass fits that. Unless I have treats in my hand, the first thing my ducks go for when I put my hand down is my rings. They don't give up on that, either, until I distract them. They peck and pull at the rings even after they should be pretty sure they aren't going to come off.

 

[Amiga]

A metal detector is a really, really fine idea! I did not have one, but I do have some rip snorting strong magnets. I went over the pen area with them thoroughly - turned up I don't know how many dozens of roofing nails and other items. To find non-iron objects, I just had to use my eyes. A metal detector would have helped.

I cannot guarantee 100% safety - things percolate up through the soil, it seems - but I in fact did not let the ducks get to areas before I raked those areas over pretty thoroughly. A duck cannot tell the difference between a chunk of glass and a snail shell, as far as I know…If you just want them to have some more space, you could lay down some coated wire, then mulch on top of that, and fence it. Maybe. But even though it is a chore, once it is done, it is pretty much done.