Garden vs. Ducks [urgent help jeeded]

[Buckas]

If your mom will allow this and the homeowners association (we have similar rules in ours)!!! For added security I have placed straw bales around the perimeter of our pen/kennel on the outside of coarse so I don't compromise their space. Then they can lay up against the fence all they want. I haven't had any predators mess with the main pen, I have it looking like Fort Knox but I did just lose a girl to a skunk because she made a nest in a bush and I couldn't create the same kinda security for her because of its location. The straw will attract mice, it will kill the grass its laying on and it will mold after a season so it requires some maintenance. Always a down side right. The thing is though that you can give the ducks a wind block for winter and when there is snow on the ground you just break up one of the bales and toss some straw on the ground for them to walk on.

 

[furbabymum]

I literally had to throw mine into the pond I'd made for them. Once they saw it wasn't evil they never wanted to leave.

 

[furbabymum]

Just a warning, my ducks didn't used to wander. I've had them over a year now and they've never shown an interest in ranging with everyone else. UNTIL recently. They've started going farther and farther out and now I'm -4 ducks.

 

[HollyDuckFarmer]

... Back to your kennel. Hardware cloth is very different from chicken wire-- it is stronger and the points are attached rather than twisted. Visually it should look no different from chicken wire, it will just protect your investment and ducks. It is substantially stronger and more effective and keeping chickens and ducks protected by keeping predators out. It is more costly than chicken wire, tho, so if hardware cloth just isn't an option right now for you, then please at least consider triple layering the chicken wire, just for more protection. Be aware that if you choose this way, you will likely be returning to buy more to add more layers soon, because the wire is just twisted, the holes can be stretched. Hardware cloth is your better option.

 

[Megaputz]

For sections of the lawn that are getting eaten up. Use fencing to control the ducks path to the creek to a temporary run. Spos where you want the grass to grow back and you can't keep the ducks away. Try 1/2"x1/2" hardware cloth or rabbit wire. Use wood, pvc or whatever to create a frame to attach the wire so there is a 2" or so gap... The ducks will still be able to walk over the wire but it will protect the ground so the grass can regrow or so you can germinate grass with seed. If you have heavy soil try to mix some sand into it so the water can drain better to the subsoil in the muddy areas