Duck Mess

[sharvc]

We have a kiddie pool in our duck run. It has created a nasty mess. We have to dump the kiddie pool out and refill it at least once a week which has created a standing pool of nasty water in the run. I guess the ground got water logged. If I add sand for the floor of the run won't it get washed away when we dump the pool. How do you deal with the mess of the ducks and how can I make this a more clean environment? It's quite stinky.

 

[Debs Flock]

We dug trenches running as downhill as we could from the pools. We use 2 kiddie pools. Then we buried those pipe things, like what you use from your downspouts, underneath the pools. The pools sit on a bit of gravel. It's pretty effective for draining away the water. I hope this makes sense. Good luck!

Edit to add (we have 8 ducks) we also drain/refill pools daily if the weather is warm. The only time we can go longer than a day is late Fall/Winter. The water staying cool must prevent stench.

 

[gal5150]

I have my kiddos pool and surrounding area....about a foot or so on 3 inches of pea gravel. Drains super well, no standing water, and super easy to rinse down poops with a hose. Pool is located in a corner of the run and I installed a drain on the poolconnevted to a long hose so the majority of the water is deposited wheverer I put the hose. Works great and super easy and inexpensive to do.

Edit to add that I drain and refill the pool daily, otherwise it would stink and I can't even imagine the yuck of more than a day old duck pool water.

 

[FLChickens]

Do you garden at all?

I used to use a pump to send the dirty goose and duck water into the tomato patch - helped grow AWESOME tomatoes. It could be done with a hose siphon if you don't have a pump. Just make sure the soil on the tomatoes is lower than the pool.