We converted part of our walkout basement to a duck barn. No, the house does not smell like sewage. The barn is managed to avoid that. I use good bedding (have used pine shavings, now use chopped flax straw), have watering stations to minimize wet bedding, tidy up bedding and refresh daily with full cleanouts as needed, control moisture - often run a dehumidifier, make sure fresh air comes in regularly, use Sweet PDZ if needed (have not had to for years) and the fact that it’s so close and so easy to work in, I believe makes it easier to keep up. Getting a utility sink made it that much easier to keep up with. All my supplies are at hand, I can get to the ducks in a flash, don’t worry about too cold or too warm, never have to shovel to reach them...it works for me. and keeps predators out, I don’t need a heater so there’s no fire risk. It’s naturally cooler in the summer, so not worried about overheating. Much less expensive than my other options.
