Ideas to help clean and reduce smell of duck area?

[OldGuy43]

Wish I could help, but I live in a hot, dry region so, aside from their pond I don't have any odor issues.

Consider yourself a member of the
The Charlie Brown Congregation

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/642484/the-charlie-brown-congregation-do-you-qualify

 

[PeanutnCashew]

Hi there, just want to add to the already very good suggestions.

I was getting many flies, which of course add to smell...my solution was feeding them in a seperate area away from the pen. The flies are almost eliminated now in the pen area. My ducks spend most of their time in their pool so their is not much poop on ground but when their is, I hose it down because it attracts those nasty flies. I replaced some of my straw ( where sun isnt shining to dry it out) with LARGE river pebbles. Also, make sure the area gets good air, enclosed areas breed smell. Keeping area as clean as possible will be a ton of work but necessary.

Good luck!

 

[billw]

About four inches of pea gravel on top of weed barrier fabric works great for us with weekly hose-downs (when not raining).

Kind of pricey if the ducks are temporary residents though.

We have the same type of climate, although you get about four more feet of rain.

 

[kwinnypoo]

I'm concerned about sand... I just feel like it would turn into a soupy sandy poopy mess... But maybe that's my irrational fears... I'm going to contact them about finding an additional foster home to reduce the amount of ducks I have here... Clearly my yard just wasn't meant for having so many.

 

[70%cocoa]

Totally understand those fears! You have probably seen more poop in the last few days than ever before, LOL. But, with sand, as long as water can flow away, sand is fine. You have to have the sand built up above the level of the soil - like a raised garden bed.

You have taken on a lot of ducks at once, so I can imagine that it is a bit of a shock to the whole garden system. Getting the help of another foster home makes sense

 

[kwinnypoo]

Yep. It's been a few weeks actually... I think I will try the cheapest and easiest solution first... straw/hay/alphalfa whatever... Throw that down. Mucking the soiled straw out is going to be much easier than mucking straight poop out! LOL

I think I'll try that first before I drop the "Please find another foster home" bomb... I really do feel terrible committing to this, and then going back on my promise... especially because I know it's a good cause... All I can hope is that litigation ends soon, or she decides to surrender them...

 

[70%cocoa]

Sorry, a few weeks! Yes, that's a lot of poop.

Sounds like a good plan to go with the masses of litter plan first. That is definitely what I'd try under the same circumstances.

You are doing a great thing by caring for these ducks and it is really good of you to be so committed to it. I hope that the heaps of litter make it all more manageable and reduce the gross factor significantly for you.

 

[kwinnypoo]

All I can hope is the hay or straw acts as a sponge and makes it easier to remove the waste. Figuring out what to do with the soiled hay beyond that point is the last hurdle.

 

[70%cocoa]

Do you have neighbours with a veggie garden or fruit trees who would like it as mulch?

 

[furbabymum]

I use hay as well. Just in my brooder right now. I've 5 ducklings in it and I change the hay about once a week. It does keep the smell down, I believe. Also makes the best mulch for my plants!