Creating a healthy environment for ducks

[barbw]

I am a city girl who moved to the country 5 years ago. A neighbor gave me a pekin female duck three years ago and I now have 24 ducks of different breeds. We live in Missouri and I have tried different ground cover for the duck pen. I still am looking for something that is lower maintenance.
We have an enclosure that includes covered housing and are going to put a drainable pond in there also. Any suggestions for ground cover would be helpful.

 

[Gray Farms]

A very thick layer of mulch or river rock is about all that is going to withstand ducks. 6 inches or more.

P.S.
Hello and Welcome my fellow Missourian.

 

[Miss Lydia]

River rock is a good idea. they are round not sharp pointed so easy on the feet.
Will they also have time to forage around on reg ground?
washing down the area would be easy too. I actually put river rock around where the water buckets are and pool area and it really does help.

 

[chickens really]

Sloped pens with river rock covered in a thick layer of sand..Water runs out and you can sift out the poop.

 

[Michael P]

I use the deep litter method in the night pen, and it works well. You start with a deep layer of organic mulch, almost any type will work. I've used straw, wood chips from a local arborist, and fallen leaves. As the pen gets dirty, add another layer. Periodically you clean it all out, move to the compost bin, and start over. I have a small flock with a small night pen, and I need to do a complete cleaning about every six months.