Duck run ground covering and other questions?

[ajohn151]

Hi all!

I have finally got my coop/run/duck yard almost complete. I built the coop and surrounded it with a 30 foot long 10 foot wide and 6 foot high chain link run. I then surrounded that with 164 foot electric poultry netting. So far it seems to be working well. The run area is getting a bit poopie. What does everyone recommend to use as a ground covering?

Also, they like to stay in the run most of the day even though they have access to a much larger yard area. My biggest predator concern during the day is ariel predators. The majority of the yard is tree covered which I hope will help shield them from view at least a little. Is it ok to kick them out of the run and close it to force them into the yard? They have food and water in both the run and the yard. I was also hoping to start moving them to different parts of the yard to help spread the poo to other areas and give them fresh forage options. I have 2+ acres in this bigger area I was hoping to move them about. I was going to add an additional 100 foot electric net to expand their range and be able to move it around. What are the pro's and con's? What do I need to be concerned about/think about? I work from home and most of the day watch the yard as well as my wife is constantly out and about with them as she is gardening and working on the property so predation concern is less.

Any ideas or thought are welcome.

Thanks,
A

Group picture of my muscovy's and Khaki's just for fun.

My favorite picture of my fair feathered ducks.

 

[416bigbore]

Hello, Welcome to BYC. Your Coop/run/duck yard looks great! they should be very happy.

As for the perfect ground covering, that is the 100k question? It's seems to me whatever a person chooses to use it will have it's draw backs in one way or another.

You could put them out into the bigger part of your duck yard. The ducks know that their coop is a safe place and it will take a little time for then to get used to the new area. Maybe you could put something out in the big area for them to get under so they will feel a little safer being out there.

I have noticed with our ducks they have amazing eye sight to spot small things way up in the air, like Ariel predators, airplanes, large butterfly's . They all tilt their heads to the side first to look at it and if they feel threatened, off to the coop they all go running for safety.

That's why I mention maybe putting some extra shelter in your larger duck yard to help them feel safe while being out there.

 

[RShayne]

Want to move them, try moving the kiddie pool to the area you want them in, good luck.

 

[corriemartin]

I have found that my ducks take some time to get used to any new place, so yeah, keep kicking them out! But adding some additional shelters in the yard might help them feel more secure.