Duck run substrate? How do you keep the mess down?

[WadeMD]

I have seen various people talking about how they keep a duck run clean (or at least less muddy).... what is the best surface to have?

This is going into a place where it was all grass and is therefore mud by extension. Is sand best? Small grain gravel (like the sifted stuff from a rock yard)? Mulch? Layered sand with mulch on top?

There is going to be a pond in the run with them, so I will probably build a very shallow decking around the edge of that, but there's still a good 10x15' space thats currently grass.

What do you use?

 

[Katy]

I use pea gravel.

 

[WadeMD]

No issues with foot sores using the pea gravel?

 

[Katy]

No, I've never had any problems with their feet and I've been using it in my calls' pen quite a few years now.

 

[ConchRepublic]

We did pea gravel on half the run, and most of our ducks ended up getting big sores.

 

[cayuga26]

We use sand; it can get a bit mucky when frozen. Early in the spring when the days are warm and the nights cold only the surface thaws so the surface can be a bit mucky (not like mud though and the ducks cant tunnel in it). Otherwise it drains very well, and the top layer can be removed (with the caked duck manure) easily (or raked and the manure removed). We also built up the sides of the outdoor run (about 6 inches) and have a large sand box type run that is above grade which greatly helps drain the yard.

 

[Wifezilla]

I have pea gravel but I put a layer of straw on top of that.