How can I keep my duck run clean?

[Crazy4Fowl]

I’m looking for suggestions on how I can keep my duck coop run area clean. Right now it’s just a muddy poopy mess and I want a way to keep it nice and clean. And as the days get warmer a way to keep the scent down as well.

 

[SilverBirds]

I think your best option is to deep litter.

 

[ruthhope]

I agree on the deep litter.

Which state are you? I am in NE Florida and many S Eastern states have live oak and similar oak leaves that make very good layers in deep litter. I use a bottom layer of oak leaves, then mainly pine shavings with added pine straw in the winter to give my ducks extra warmth [we do have nights that drop to 30F in NE Florida]. Straw or pine straw make good additives to deep litter. If it gets very wet, I add another layer of oak leaves before adding more pine shavings

I do have the advantage of very sandy soil

 

[Crazy4Fowl]

I agree on the deep litter.

Which state are you? I am in NE Florida and many S Eastern states have live oak and similar oak leaves that make very good layers in deep litter. I use a bottom layer of oak leaves, then mainly pine shavings with added pine straw in the winter to give my ducks extra warmth [we do have nights that drop to 30F in NE Florida]. Straw or pine straw make good additives to deep litter. If it gets very wet, I add another layer of oak leaves before adding more pine shavings

I do have the advantage of very sandy soil

Thank you for the response. I’ve never heard of deep littler. I will have to look into it

 

[Fawkes]

I'm also in NE Florida and I get sand for mine. Not dusty, fine sand or very coarse sand as that wouldn't be good for the ducks. Works well - keeps it nicely drained, poop can be scooped easily with a small garden hand trowel.

 

[dlschnars]

I think your best option is to deep litter.

What is deep litter

 

[Crazy4Fowl]

Ok so I looked into the deep litter method and that seems to be what I already do for the inside coop part. However, I need to know how to keep the outside run clean. Do I also put shavings out there? I thought shaving were for the inside part of the coop. Is there some kind of dirt or sand to use outside for the run? Or do you also use wood shavings in run?

 

[ruthhope]

Ok so I looked into the deep litter method and that seems to be what I already do for the inside coop part. However, I need to know how to keep the outside run clean. Do I also put shavings out there? I thought shaving were for the inside part of the coop. Is there some kind of dirt or sand to use outside for the run? Or do you also use wood shavings in run?

Sorry for the long delay -- I only just saw your question, @Crazy4Fowl

Many people dig out the pine shavings from their coop and use it, pre-used, directly in the run. It will still be absorptive enough to prevent or at least reduce mud in the run.

My ducks free range during the day and I use a different method -- that would also work in a run. I am in NE Florida and collect oak leaves from round my neighborhood in March each year. Neighbors blow their leaves from off their lawns and bag them at the street for collection -- I go round before the County does and take home the best, cleanest bags of oak leaves. I put a deep layer of oak leaves on my back yard where the ducks forage in March this year. The ducks love it -- playing in the piles of leaves before I spread them and foraging in the leaves ever since. The leaves get broken down in the most traversed parts of the garden and I have already put out more leaves on the trails well trodden by ducky feet. I save enough leaves each year to put our more leaves twice after the initial March spread. This has worked so well for me that this year I invested in two plastic trash cans with wheels and lids [the cheapest I could from Home Depot.] I double bag the plastic bags I collect that are not emptied into the plastic cans, into heavy duty black contractor bags. But in Florida weather, the plastic bags are already degrading now in November, 8 months later. So next March I will invest in another two black plastice wheelie trash cans.

Prior to moving to Florida, we lived in Northern Virginia. There, leaves are taken to the curb in the fall. Many are in piles and collected by suction tankers. But some people do put out their leaves in plastic bags. We used to collect the bagged leaves in NoVA and use them for mulch at both my home and at the community swimming pool for the flower beds. If you do not have access to oak leaves in March each year when you live, perhaps you could collect the leaves in the fall?

 

[BelovedBirds]

Sorry for the long delay -- I only just saw your question, @Crazy4Fowl

Many people dig out the pine shavings from their coop and use it, pre-used, directly in the run. It will still be absorptive enough to prevent or at least reduce mud in the run.

My ducks free range during the day and I use a different method -- that would also work in a run. I am in NE Florida and collect oak leaves from round my neighborhood in March each year. Neighbors blow their leaves from off their lawns and bag them at the street for collection -- I go round before the County does and take home the best, cleanest bags of oak leaves. I put a deep layer of oak leaves on my back yard where the ducks forage in March this year. The ducks love it -- playing in the piles of leaves before I spread them and foraging in the leaves ever since. The leaves get broken down in the most traversed parts of the garden and I have already put out more leaves on the trails well trodden by ducky feet. I save enough leaves each year to put our more leaves twice after the initial March spread. This has worked so well for me that this year I invested in two plastic trash cans with wheels and lids [the cheapest I could from Home Depot.] I double bag the plastic bags I collect that are not emptied into the plastic cans, into heavy duty black contractor bags. But in Florida weather, the plastic bags are already degrading now in November, 8 months later. So next March I will invest in another two black plastice wheelie trash cans.

Prior to moving to Florida, we lived in Northern Virginia. There, leaves are taken to the curb in the fall. Many are in piles and collected by suction tankers. But some people do put out their leaves in plastic bags. We used to collect the bagged leaves in NoVA and use them for mulch at both my home and at the community swimming pool for the flower beds. If you do not have access to oak leaves in March each year when you live, perhaps you could collect the leaves in the fall?

i get a lot of oak leaves In my yard that I could use, but while collecting them up Im bound to end up with acorns in there--
Is that safe for them?

 

[ruthhope]

i get a lot of oak leaves In my yard that I could use, but while collecting them up Im bound to end up with acorns in there--
Is that safe for them?

I haven't had any issues.