Ducks run is so muddy!!!

[DucksOhio]

We have 5 chickens and 2 ducks...their runs are seperated and the ducks have a cubby under the coop to get under for shelter
But their run is SO muddy because weve had alot of rain here in Ohio and it hasnt been cold enough for the ground to freeze so it's just a mud pit in there...the one duck doesnt seem to mind but we have a very short duck that has a hard time walking and he gets stuck in the mud
I know we may have to wait until spring to do anything but does anyone have any suggestions ? I feel so bad for frank (the super short one ) because he struggles to walk as is
Or please just tell me were not the only ones that have this issue?! Its driving me nuts!
Thank you!

I’m in Ohio as well, and up, my entire property is one big mud pit. My ducks free range in the day, so they LOVE the mud...but I can understand your little one having an issue with navigating that. Straw is best suggestion, even if it gets wet in the run. Do they have a dry place to go to?

According to weather channel, we’re expecting a cold front coming in tomorrow...so the mud will freeze up.

Since I’ve had ducks, I really despise winter, especially here in Ohio. Poor things spend days inside there house, and since the hose freezes, I have to lug gallons of water uphill from my basement. I always worry about them in the super cold weather, and we go through much more straw, as they need deeper piles, and are in the house much longer than the rest of the year.

Fortunately, we’ve had a relatively mild winter this year...can’t wait for February to be over!

 

[happy duck]

You are not the only one! This happens to me a lot so just putting some straw down...like many others will help!

 

[Sandrews2015]

I’m in Ohio as well, and up, my entire property is one big mud pit. My ducks free range in the day, so they LOVE the mud...but I can understand your little one having an issue with navigating that. Straw is best suggestion, even if it gets wet in the run. Do they have a dry place to go to?

According to weather channel, we’re expecting a cold front coming in tomorrow...so the mud will freeze up.

Since I’ve had ducks, I really despise winter, especially here in Ohio. Poor things spend days inside there house, and since the hose freezes, I have to lug gallons of water uphill from my basement. I always worry about them in the super cold weather, and we go through much more straw, as they need deeper piles, and are in the house much longer than the rest of the year.

Fortunately, we’ve had a relatively mild winter this year...can’t wait for February to be over!

Yes they have a dry place under the chicken coop to go to...with straw inside
Maybe we will try to put straw on the mud in the run (only problem is we cant get to it to take the straw out ) it's not tall enough for us to walk in...we can throw it through the holes in the chicken wire
I just hate how hard it is for the poor little fella to walk...he was stuck the other day and I felt so bad ...he ended up moving but I'm sure it hurts his little legs ! I worried too about them a couple nights when it was really cold but they didnt seem to mind it at all as long as they have straw in their cubby to sleep in !

 

[happy duck]

Yes they have a dry place under the chicken coop to go to...with straw inside
Maybe we will try to put straw on the mud in the run (only problem is we cant get to it to take the straw out ) it's not tall enough for us to walk in...we can throw it through the holes in the chicken wire
I just hate how hard it is for the poor little fella to walk...he was stuck the other day and I felt so bad ...he ended up moving but I'm sure it hurts his little legs ! I worried too about them a couple nights when it was really cold but they didnt seem to mind it at all as long as they have straw in their cubby to sleep in !

What kind of duck is your little one?

 

[Sandrews2015]

They are both pekins ! Think the one just has a bad leg or something he waddles so bad and his legs are way shorter than the other one

 

[happy duck]

They are both pekins ! Think the one just has a bad leg or something he waddles so bad and his legs are way shorter than the other one

I have a pekin too! Aww poor buddy.... I was asking just to see if he was a generally smaller breed but nope...they don't get bigger then pekins! Yeah just make sure that you have straw and all should me good. Also just to think about it...make sure your little buddy doesn't have an infection on his foot(bumble foot). He probably doesn't considering his leg size but it won't hurt if you check(also checking your other duck will be good too). I am just thinking about all the mud and infection so maybe that is why he has leg problems. Just wanting to make sure you little buddy is okay.I am not trying to say this to make you worried at all just wonder about mess and muck...

 

[Sandrews2015]

I have a pekin too! Aww poor buddy.... I was asking just to see if he was a generally smaller breed but nope...they don't get bigger then pekins! Yeah just make sure that you have straw and all should me good. Also just to think about it...make sure your little buddy doesn't have an infection on his foot(bumble foot). He probably doesn't considering his leg size but it won't hurt if you check(also checking your other duck will be good too). I am just thinking about all the mud and infection so maybe that is why he has leg problems. Just wanting to make sure you little buddy is okay.I am not trying to say this to make you worried at all just wonder about mess and muck...

His little legs have been like that the whole time weve had him...hes always just been shorter than his brother and waddles really bad...I feel so bad for him !
Neither of them let us hold them...and the shorter one only let's us touch him if he cant get back into the pool when they've been free ranging ...he will let us pick him up to put him back but thats it
So putting the straw down and it getting wet isnt going to hurt anything? Because where I would put it it would get rained on and we dont have much of a way to get it out when it gets wet

 

[DuckyDonna]

His little legs have been like that the whole time weve had him...hes always just been shorter than his brother and waddles really bad...I feel so bad for him !
Neither of them let us hold them...and the shorter one only let's us touch him if he cant get back into the pool when they've been free ranging ...he will let us pick him up to put him back but thats it
So putting the straw down and it getting wet isnt going to hurt anything? Because where I would put it it would get rained on and we dont have much of a way to get it out when it gets wet

Maybe when it's light out can you take a picture of your set up. I'm having a hard time picturing it.

 

[chickens really]

Ducks are stinky and create constant messes..
Not the cleanest livestock to keep.

 

[Sandrews2015]

Maybe when it's light out can you take a picture of your set up. I'm having a hard time picturing it.

Yes I could but it's a freaking mess lol it's just their run that is outside ...not the cubby they go into that's dry
Where it's all mud all thats on the top of it is chicken wire and a wood frame so its completely open thats why it's so muddy because theres no grass anymore they ate all of it and pooped and now it's just all mud ....we have some left over composite deck boards in there for them to walk up to their pool they have always been there so they are good but the worst spot is just all mud thick wet mud