I have no idea what I am doing

[Steven Mazzo]

Tell us more...what size are you thinking for pond? for enclosure? Pond in enclosure?

Small kidney or free form pond inside enclosure. Not sure of exact size but I'm guessing around 10x15 in that area and her house will be inside the enclosure as well

 

[Steven Mazzo]

We are doing some planning ourselves for a duck house and run so we can get them out of the smaller enclosures we have right now. I think we have decided to do the deep litter method in our run except for around where their swimming hole will be Well are going to do some concrete pavers around it to provide some drainage and give them something to keep their nails trimmed on. Our swimming hole will be inside the run. We plan to put hardware cloth on the ground all the way around and make concrete pavers on top to hold it down. View attachment 1073747by pavers I mean these. You can get a mold to make these at Lowe's or home depot or Amazon. It's pretty easy outside of mixing the quick Crete. Cheaper than buying stepping stones. I think we are going to leave our tank above ground on one side so we can put a drain in it. Will have to build it up somehow on one side so they can get in and out.

I was thinking to leave the pond above ground as well to make it easy to drain. It just won't look as nice I'm afraid but I'd rather be able to empty it easily a couple times a week so she is not swimming in muck

 

[Steven Mazzo]

I was also thinking some concrete pavers for the nails too but I'm afraid of that bumble foot. Looks nasty

 

[shawluvsbirds]

I was also thinking some concrete pavers for the nails too but I'm afraid of that bumble foot. Looks nasty

Ya me too. But I think as long as they don't have to be on it 24 7 it should be good. I think it's good for them to have different surfaces to be on. . . any experts feel free to chime in Lol

 

[Ravynscroft]

I was also thinking some concrete pavers for the nails too but I'm afraid of that bumble foot. Looks nasty

Some concrete pavers are fine, just not her whole area... I would leave her as big a section of grass as possible, she would love that no doubt...

If you set stacks of pavers or rocks/blocks in stepping stones fashion around the pond, it won't look so eyesoreish above ground...

 

[mobius]

Love the idea of a raised pond to drain/clean...all sounds very nice!!!

 

[Kusanar]

Some concrete pavers are fine, just not her whole area... I would leave her as big a section of grass as possible, she would love that no doubt...

If you set stacks of pavers or rocks/blocks in stepping stones fashion aroung the pond, it won't look so eyesoreish above ground...

I like this suggestion. Also, you can put a valve in the side of the pond, you can even do one that will hook to a garden hose, that way you can hook up a hose and drag it across the yard to a different spot each time you empty the pond, that water will be awesome for your grass.

Bumble foot is usually caused by cuts or splinters on the feet. I wouldn't do pavers over the entire thing just because you would have to be out there hosing it off every day to get the poop off. A small section of pavers around the pond and stacked up against the sides would work to keep her from making a mud pit right at the side of the pond (wet duck getting out and dripping everywhere) and she will likely track less dirt into the pond that way too.

Something else you could think about doing, since she will likely eat all of her grass, is make planters and put grass in them with wire over the top, she can eat what pokes through the wire, but won't be able to destroy the root system and kill the grass entirely.

 

[shawluvsbirds]

This is something like what I want to do. I don't want the sharp rocks this guy has and I defiantly can not spend 500 dollars on the pump thing he has I will have to figure out how to make gravity work. But you'll get the idea.

If I put the right link up. . I'll see lol
Yep That's the right one.

 

[shawluvsbirds]

This video is kind of slow and annoying but gives a good idea on gravity drainage.

 

[mobius]

Here are two pics of the grass "salad bar" I have barley and clover in mine....and they LOVE it.