Boring duck coop

[tanaschicks]

Hi there!

My duck coop is boring, it’s dry dirt with little to no plants. I know ducks like to eat plants but I’m looking to add some kind of plants to their area to make it better for them. I read that already established plants are better because they aren’t as tender so I’m not against putting some chicken wire around some plants to get them established.

I say plants but I’m more so thinking leafy things like tall grass that would go around ponds. Some bushes maybe. Really Anything that will spruce the place up.

Thanks!

 

[SilverBirds]

Can you post a picture of your run?

 

[Alaskan]

I had raspberries and an apple tree in the duck run, and those did well.


The raspberries have to be on the fence line, so they can't get to all the roots.

You could also have a bush planted right outside the run that then arches over and into the run.

 

[cheezenkwackers]

All good ideas. I added a mulberry tree/shrub which gives nice shade.

I also make a ring of 1/2” mesh hardware cloth and dump dirty shavings in it for a few months. Then, I plant sweet potatoes in it. As the plants grow they come over the edge and the ducks love to eat the edible leaves that they can reach. Bonus, you get sweet potatoes come fall. This is it, open, right after digging the potatoes. My helpers cleaned up for me.

 

[Lor]

I don't know what these plants are but my ducks like to lay their eggs under them. They've been there for a long time.

 

[telandra2]

My ducks favorite is the lilac. Summer shade, winter seedpods, year round shelter. Yesterday during a thunderstorm with hail they went under the lilac rather than inside.

 

[A little Daffy]

I don't know what these plants are but my ducks like to lay their eggs under them. They've been there for a long time.

I know you probably already found out, but the plant on the right is a Cast-iron plant. It's supposed to attract insects. Maybe that's why they lay under there.