Duck run question

[Beckid974]

Hoping to be setting up a duck house/run for our 6 ducks this weekend. The run will be another 10x10 dog kennel like we are now using for a chicken run (the three drakes are currently housed with the chickens, the girls were just purchased over the weekend and are still separated), reinforced with hardware cloth, and the duck house and their pool will be enclosed in it. My question is, when we set the run up for the ducks, do we put some kind of bedding down from the start, or let them enjoy the grass until it's gone? Unfortunately, I'm not sure we can free range them as we have a colony of semi-feral cats that we and my in-laws have been feeding for years. We recently caught them with the help of a local animal group to get them fixed, and there were 17 cats caught. (They don't all come around at once to be fed, but I have had as many as 11-15 at a time on my porch, but not regularly. Usual count is 8 and the others wander in throughout the day.) A little disappointing to not find new kittens every week because of the cuteness but at the same time a huge relief!!!!! Sorry, I have a tendency to ramble, lol. Thanks!!!!!!

 

[PirateGirl]

I'd let them enjoy the grass while they have it. You could build a few grazing frames and their grass will last longer. Grass tends to last longer with ducks than chickens as well. Nothing ever grows in my chicken run, but I do find scraggly grass trying to grow in my duck run. They like to nibble on it.

 

[Beckid974]

I'd let them enjoy the grass while they have it. You could build a few grazing frames and their grass will last longer. Grass tends to last longer with ducks than chickens as well. Nothing ever grows in my chicken run, but I do find scraggly grass trying to grow in my duck run. They like to nibble on it.

We have actually been talking about grazing frames for the chickens, never thought about the ducks liking them as well!

 

[PirateGirl]

Since your grass isn't dead yet, you could do a frame over half the run with small enough mesh that they can safely walk on it, and then switch it to the other half of the run on a rotation depending how well your grass grows back (or not)

 

[Beckid974]

Since your grass isn't dead yet, you could do a frame over half the run with small enough mesh that they can safely walk on it, and then switch it to the other half of the run on a rotation depending how well your grass grows back (or not)

Our grass can grow pretty quickly, except where the dogs pee regularly lol. That's a great idea to do it from the start!