Finally building covered duck run! Substrate? Suggestions?

[Weeg]

I am so happy to finally be preparing to build a covered duck run soon! I’m calling to get a quote on metal on Monday. This duck run will be a replica of my Fluffy Butt Hut tractor in my coop link. Of course, it will be bigger, and the coop will be different so it can house ducks. So far the dimensions are 8x20 for 10 ducks. I know this is tight, but I’m still trying to work the extra 2ft wide out of my dad. The original plan was to make it the same width as the Fluffy Butt Hut, but I’m hoping I can get him to go for 10x20. Anyway, that aside, it will be a covered run made completely out of metal. I will have the coop on the outside of the run, since I don’t plan on it being mobile. It could be mobile, but I think that moving 10 ducks around is going to be too many. I think they’re going to kill the grass faster than we can move it. So, to the point of this thread, I’m wondering what substrate I should put down in the run?
I was thinking sand so I could go scoop the poop off the top. I’m currently using straw in my bantam run because it’s still mobile in the summer, and I want to clean it out easily. Straw still gets wet quickly, so I’m hoping for something a bit more long lasting.
I’m hoping to get HC on this tractor instead of 1x2 welded wire. Hoping that will keep the birds out and help protect from rain better. Do you think sand is a good choice in the PNW climate? Will it get too wet and be too difficult to clean even with the covered run? Will it drain if it gets wet? Is it easy to clean with ducks? I’ve heard that mulch is good too, but I’m concerned I won’t be able to clean that as easily.
I don’t plan on having a pond in the run. I’m going to keep their small pond outside the run so they can go to it in the summer. That will make it easier to restrict access in the winter as well. I’m hoping that will help keep the run clean. Then have dunk able water in the run. If anyone thinks it would be better to have the pond in the run, any suggestions to keep it clean? We have a natural spring that feeds their current pond. We feed the spring to the pond through a very large pipe/hose, so it could be moved to a new location. With this in mind, the pond would need to drain out of the run since it overflows. Our current setup has a small stream that feeds all the water out into the woods.

Thanks for the help everyone! Very excited about this build, the feedback is very helpful.

 

[BReeder!]

I am so happy to finally be preparing to build a covered duck run soon! I’m calling to get a quote on metal on Monday. This duck run will be a replica of my Fluffy Butt Hut tractor in my coop link. Of course, it will be bigger, and the coop will be different so it can house ducks. So far the dimensions are 8x20 for 10 ducks. I know this is tight, but I’m still trying to work the extra 2ft wide out of my dad. The original plan was to make it the same width as the Fluffy Butt Hut, but I’m hoping I can get him to go for 10x20. Anyway, that aside, it will be a covered run made completely out of metal. I will have the coop on the outside of the run, since I don’t plan on it being mobile. It could be mobile, but I think that moving 10 ducks around is going to be too many. I think they’re going to kill the grass faster than we can move it. So, to the point of this thread, I’m wondering what substrate I should put down in the run?
I was thinking sand so I could go scoop the poop off the top. I’m currently using straw in my bantam run because it’s still mobile in the summer, and I want to clean it out easily. Straw still gets wet quickly, so I’m hoping for something a bit more long lasting.
I’m hoping to get HC on this tractor instead of 1x2 welded wire. Hoping that will keep the birds out and help protect from rain better. Do you think sand is a good choice in the PNW climate? Will it get too wet and be too difficult to clean even with the covered run? Will it drain if it gets wet? Is it easy to clean with ducks? I’ve heard that mulch is good too, but I’m concerned I won’t be able to clean that as easily.
I don’t plan on having a pond in the run. I’m going to keep their small pond outside the run so they can go to it in the summer. That will make it easier to restrict access in the winter as well. I’m hoping that will help keep the run clean. Then have dunk able water in the run. If anyone thinks it would be better to have the pond in the run, any suggestions to keep it clean? We have a natural spring that feeds their current pond. We feed the spring to the pond through a very large pipe/hose, so it could be moved to a new location. With this in mind, the pond would need to drain out of the run since it overflows. Our current setup has a small stream that feeds all the water out into the woods.

Thanks for the help everyone! Very excited about this build, the feedback is very helpful.

If I covered my duck run I think I would mix sand into the soil of the run and then top it with wood shavings, leaves, hay or straw, grass clippings, etc., creating a deep litter bed. The sand would be to help keep the soil structure loose and well draining (even though it's covered, ducks like to get everything wet) and the shavings, leaves, hay or straw and grass clippings are compostable so I can muck out the run and still put everything into my compost bins. The layer of shavings, leaves, hay or straw and grass clippings is also soft to walk, doesn't get overly hot in the sun, and stays fairly dry (doesn't puddle) since it drains well. Compared to dirt, wood chips, sand gravel, concrete or any other run substrate, deep litter on well drained soil is a winner in my book.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I can't help on substrate since my ducks aren't actually in a run but in 1/2 acre fencing but I want to follow along to see how it all comes out.

 

[Weeg]

If I covered my duck run I think I would mix sand into the soil of the run and then top it with wood shavings, leaves, hay or straw, grass clippings, etc., creating a deep litter bed. The sand would be to help keep the soil structure loose and well draining (even though it's covered, ducks like to get everything wet) and the shavings, leaves, hay or straw and grass clippings are compostable so I can muck out the run and still put everything into my compost bins. The layer of shavings, leaves, hay or straw and grass clippings is also soft to walk, doesn't get overly hot in the sun, and stays fairly dry (doesn't puddle) since it drains well. Compared to dirt, wood chips, sand gravel, concrete or any other run substrate, deep litter on well drained soil is a winner in my book.

I think this idea. Thank you! Definitely makes sense, ducks get everything wet, theirs not avoiding it thats for sure.

 

[Crazy Maizie]

I have sand. But the ducks just pack it down. It works well for chickens. But, on the duck side, I have to dig it up a bit to loosen it. Right now, I have straw over the sand (and snow). They pack that down too, but it's easier to fluff back up and I have plans for the straw this spring in the garden so it will be dual purpose.
I replenish the sand every spring or early summer (depending on when I get around to it). But, I'm really liking the straw and might just keep topping that off as its better for composting and actually works well in many areas. Last year I kept an area filled with straw and just kept adding dry once it rained. The ducks really liked billing around in it.

 

[Weeg]

I have sand. But the ducks just pack it down. It works well for chickens. But, on the duck side, I have to dig it up a bit to loosen it. Right now, I have straw over the sand (and snow). They pack that down too, but it's easier to fluff back up and I have plans for the straw this spring in the garden so it will be dual purpose.
I replenish the sand every spring or early summer (depending on when I get around to it). But, I'm really liking the straw and might just keep topping that off as its better for composting and actually works well in many areas. Last year I kept an area filled with straw and just kept adding dry once it rained. The ducks really liked billing around in it.

Okay cool. So far I think I'm leaning towards a thin layer of sand and soil, then straw, fall leaves, grass clippings, or other compostable material on top of that. Out of curiosity, how often do you have to muck out and replace the compostable material?

 

[Crazy Maizie]

Okay cool. So far I think I'm leaning towards a thin layer of sand and soil, then straw, fall leaves, grass clippings, or other compostable material on top of that. Out of curiosity, how often do you have to muck out and replace the compostable material?

In the section where I left the straw, I raked it just about everyday. It basically took care of itself. Now, I haven't done it for the whole run yet. But, people use this system all of the time with chickens and the chickens do the raking. I'm going to clean it out in spring though for my garden. So, I might do it again at the end of fall to start fresh and to use on my garden as well. I read about someone who did this on FB and they cleared the run out twice a year.

 

[Weeg]

In the section where I left the straw, I raked it just about everyday. It basically took care of itself. Now, I haven't done it for the whole run yet. But, people use this system all of the time with chickens and the chickens do the raking. I'm going to clean it out in spring though for my garden. So, I might do it again at the end of fall to start fresh and to use on my garden as well. I tread about someone who did this on FB and they cleared the run out twice a year.

Got it. So daily raking and a seasonal clean out, I'm thinking winter/summer. That could definitely work. I'll probably go for this setup. We get a TON of dry leaves in the fall. We have two 50+ year old maple trees in our yard, so no shortage thats for sure.

 

[citymeetscountry]

I can't help on substrate since my ducks aren't actually in a run but in 1/2 acre fencing but I want to follow along to see how it all comes out.

Similar. We have 2.3 acres total (divide it up in 2 fenced sections and a front yard). We have. 1500 sqft fenced in “garden” area (ha! We didn’t manage to grow anything successfully last year) and the ducks have a house inside there with their own enclosed area as well, with a kiddie pool. I typically let the door to their run open so they have the whole garden area (mostly grass/weeds) to roam. They also are frequently let up to the top enclosed area where our drainage pond is -they love to eat the crawfish/minnows-and waddle around following the goats. We have relatively rocky terrain but they seem to do alright.

 

[BReeder!]

Got it. So daily raking and a seasonal clean out, I'm thinking winter/summer. That could definitely work. I'll probably go for this setup. We get a TON of dry leaves in the fall. We have two 50+ year old maple trees in our yard, so no shortage thats for sure.

An occasional reading or pitchforking certainly is helpful to stir the bedding. You'll keep adding bedding too. A flake of straw, bag of clipping from the mower or several handfuls of leaves - it all works. A little bit of extra bedding once a week helps to keep the top of the bedding fresh. I intend to muck out in Fall just in the future. I'll be mucking out this Spring though because I have quite a thick layer of material in the run at the moment.