free range or run??

[sirchrisd]

I used to let them free range with a pond and all. I lost 8 of 12. Now they stay in a pen.

 

[ChickInDelight]

Quote:
Any chance there are snapping turtles in that pond? Snappers took down tons of wild fowl here, but after I started my turtle feeding program, we don't seem to have any big snappers.

 

[NYRIR]

Hi...I keep mine in a run. I have not lost any. Plus, I have limited space so the damage they would do would be terrible. If I had more space and a pond I would probably at least free range some.Here's a pic of our run so you can see how we do it...the top has only chicken wire since our biggest predator problem here are hawks,golden eagles and bald eagles...

 

[animalsRawesome]

NYRIR- I love your run. How do you keep it SO CLEAN? I want ducks so bad, but when I had them before, their run was always all muddy and nasty. I had a predator problem and they all got eaten in one night,

but I'd like to get more if I can figure out how to keep their pen nicer. Your run looks so dry and clean. What is your secret? THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

Sorry that I kindof Hijacked your thread irf1983.

 

[NYRIR]

Quote:
LOL....Hijacker alert!! I'm guilty too

We researched before we built and utilized what we could. First, the soil where we put the run is somewhat sandy although not as much sand as I would like! Then we positioned the run so that the pools could be on the side that has a slope. If you look in the pics, you can see the water when dumped mostly runs OUT of the run and down the little hill.I purposely put my compost there to keep it moist with the pools being dumped daily or every other day.We also put a layer of dry hay in the run at least weekly,sometimes twice a week depending on weather.The ducks are locked in the hut at night without access to food/water so the hut stays dry.We only take out the hay from the run if it gets REALLY bad but usually doing the "deep litter" method you only clean it once in the fall and start over in the spring.
Anyway, I ran out and took these pics for you to see how it works...notice in this pic around the pools? I have not put hay down for about a week so it is a bit muddy but that's as far as I let it get...(I HATE a dirty Pekin

)We will be adding hay to the pool side today.

The run is 18 x 25 and takes a LOT of hay to cover. I use about a bale and a half a week to keep it this clean.

Well the site is giving me error messages for uploading pics right now but I will post more later...thank you for the compliment

 

[sirchrisd]

Quote:
Any chance there are snapping turtles in that pond? Snappers took down tons of wild fowl here, but after I started my turtle feeding program, we don't seem to have any big snappers.

No my own dogs took them out.

 

[NYRIR]

Quote:
Any chance there are snapping turtles in that pond? Snappers took down tons of wild fowl here, but after I started my turtle feeding program, we don't seem to have any big snappers.

No my own dogs took them out.

Oh, how awful

You must be really upset about that! Sorry that happened to you

 

[animalsRawesome]

NYRIR- Thanks so much for taking the pictures for me. I am so excited!

Maybe I'll be able to get ducks again. Do you use a small square bale a week, or a large round bale? I'm pretty sure you mean the small square. I hope so!

sirchrisd- so sorry about your ducks!

 

[NYRIR]

Quote:
A square bale and a half...for the run. The hut gets a bag of shavings as a bottom layer and a bunch of hay on top. You're welcome. This site helped me a LOT when trying to research to build things for the birds. Glad I can help

 

[Beekissed]

I wouldn't free range unless you can provide adequate protection for them while they are out on forage. Electric poultry netting is lightweight, movable and great at keeping out many would be four-legged predators. If you are free ranging full grown birds, I'm guessing that hawks won't be able to carry them off.

I free ranged 24/7 with little loss for the past 6 years with the use of good dogs, good tree cover, good hides and a roo alarm.