Ideas to help clean and reduce smell of duck area?

[GesWutChikenBut]

Do you think it is OK to use lime in a small pond 15x30'?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Do you think it is OK to use lime in a small pond 15x30'?

I think I'd research first putting anything into water your flock will drink should be checked out first. I don't think lime is meant to be ingested.

 

[beccaWA]

Putting lime in water adjusts the pH but you have to get the right kind of lime. You'd need to test the water in several places in the pond. I don't know if I'd try it, frankly.

Here are two websites I found for "how to keep your duck pond clean." Maybe these will help, and I'm sure there's other sites. I just did a simple Google search. Both say that using barley straw to clean up the pond (although I read one website that said not to use straw, but to use hay).

http://animals.mom.me/naturally-keep-duck-pond-clean-8925.html

http://homeguides.sfgate.com/keep-duck-pond-clean-naturally-84449.html

Good luck!

 

[cayugaducklady]

I can't comment on adding lime to water but I can confirm that adding barley straw to my stock pond got rid of the green algae growing in the water. I didn't add much maybe a handful or so to 70 gallons. The water turned clear in about a day and the sour algae smell disappeared.

I also have 6 big snails in there to keep the side clean.

I'm not having a problem with smell in my duck area but I am considering adding some composting worms to their winter straw mix since i'll be moving the straw out in the spring and putting it in places where we desperately need some organic matter around the property. Anyone try this?

 

[Amiga]

Do you think it is OK to use lime in a small pond 15x30'?

I would not.

I would have a concern about chemically burning the ducks, inside and out, and if you lower the pH too much, nitrogen will become ammonia.

Cycling the water to filter it and add oxygen may help. Adding plants that can take up nutrients (poop) can help.

 

[GesWutChikenBut]

Thanks everyone, we cycle fresh water in, but when off for three days it starts smelling. So will Pump on, Pump off every three days in a cycle.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Thanks everyone, we cycle fresh water in, but when off for three days it starts smelling. So will Pump on, Pump off every three days in a cycle.

sounds like a good plan.

 

[Amiga]

Sometimes in midsummer when the swim pan area is a little whiffy, I add dry oak leaves - works really well to tone down the aroma.

 

[Confusedfirst]

I am having a problem with the same thing I have 9 geese, 11 ducks, 12 call ducks and 25 chickens, 2 Turkeyes, 2 goats and rabbits. And 6 peacocks I am taking care of . My Uncle passed away and left me all these beautiful animals. He let them free range so the pooh is everywhere and my yard is nothing but dirt. I have been building new coops to start putting them in so it's not like that.I tried the straw all over the yard but it started to smell so we cleaned it all up and made a big compost pile for all my trees . I have also reduced the amount of animals he had which broke my heart because they was his birds. I don't have animal lover neighbors either they are always turning me in for something. I have MS so I need the advice of others to make it easier on me. I am going to find new homes for the ducks and geese to cut down on the work and smell. So my question is what is the best thing to put in the chicken coops and goat pens to keep the smell down.

 

[chickens really]

Dirt and rake as needed....I agree to get rid of the Ducks and Geese...Commend you for taking them all on...Pick what you feel is easy....Houses Pines havings work the best...Best wishes...