Grass (Do not ducks destroy it?)

[WMDAVIS99]

I am in the process of building an outdoor run for the Ducks, my wife wants to know if the Ducks will tear up all the grass. If so I can build the run in a way that they use a different area each day so they do not use the same spot each day.

 

[ging3rhoffman]

Yes they will destroy the grass. I was so relieved the day i let mine out on the pond. They are so messy, they really need a huge area. We have a fenced in area with alot of grass and a large pond so it was easy for us but when they were growing up it was stinky and very messy. I had a 6 x6 area for 6 ducklings and to keep the odor down i had to clean it 3 times a day and change their little swimming pool twice daily.

If you have to keep them in a run put sand in it so the water gets soaked up can dry up on nice days.

 

[froggie71]

They will absolutely kill the grass. Before we knew, we thought it would be good to have sod in the run. BAD idea. They ate all the grass, then just left muck on the top of all the root. We ended up putting sand in the run, and it is much, much better.

 

[nivtup]

Ours free range all day.

It has significantly cut down on the mowing.

Then again, we really do not have a good lawn, just a large grassy area

 

[headred]

We have a pen that is lightweight and moves around the yard. We move it every 3 or 4 days. The grass gets a little worn, but looks almost back to normal in about a week. They roam the yard all day and doesn't seem to affect the grass. Mowing takes up their poop and the rain washes it away. So far this is working well. Any way you can put your pen on wheels or make it moveable?

 

[conny63malies]

mine just keep it mowed at the perfect height.

 

[hikerchick]

I hate grass. My ducks can have it. I let them roam.

 

[xfilesnumber1fan]

Last year my 4 ducks destroyed my back yard...They ate all the grass and left big holes in the dirt from digging...They more are in a cage with sand and pea gravel..I have regrown my grass this year and pick them grass to eat and give them all the grass after the mower..

 

[Wifezilla]

I have 3 adults that free range on the lawn all day. My grass has never looked better!

I DO move the baby duck "play pen" from place to place every few days. If you don't, it starts to get really trampled and poopy

It all has to do with how many ducks you have in what size area. Too many ducks in too small of a space = dead grass.

 

[Trenary Duck Farm]

An old rule of thumb was to have no more than 500 ducks per acre. That translates into about 87 square feet per duck. Anything less and you will probably have maintenance problems.