Messy Duck House/Run

[Isadora]

What is a movable duck house? Do you have pics?

 

[Aunt Angus]

I had one duck get bumblefoot, but that's it so far. I don't actually change it per se. We have a movable duck house, so the floor is dirt. Usually I will scrape off the top layer with a shovel, and spread new stuff down. Whatever's on the very bottom is already degrading into the soil.

That sounds ideal, tbh. I've hot a project in the works. I'd like to keep my duckies and chickens separate, but the duckies really seem to like my chickens. They complain loudly when separated. But I really like the idea if a movable duck house. It would solve some troublesome issues we've experienced.

 

[Crazy Maizie]

View attachment 2891910

Oh. That's nice!

 

[WVduckchick]

Biggest key is to keep water and feed out of their sleeping areas. Also water and feed kinda far apart from each other. The closer the feed is to the water, the bigger mess they will make. If they have to walk between, I’ve found they make less mess.
Also elevating the water can help keep things dryer. A piece of hardwire cloth on a rabbit poop tray works well. Clean it out as necessary.

 

[Scotto2004]

Hello I have six Buff Ducks and they are very cute and messy. I was hoping someone could tell me what would be the best bedding that could be put in their run and house. They currently have sand in their house with some shavings. We have tried hay and shavings in their house and run though they end up eating most of it and the hay just goes moldy after a few days. I am wanting something that can absorb all their mess and still be somewhat dry and last a little longer than a few days. Thanks.

Number 57 rock Is the best. It drains well and air dries.

 

[Aunt Angus]

Number 57 rock Is the best. It drains well and air dries.

Timely advice! I am working on my new coop/run. Thanks!

 

[ruthhope]

I think that what you use depends on where you live. I am in NE Florida where I can pick up bagged live oak leaves in March every year from the curbside. Last year I picked up 16 plastic sacks and then double bagged them in heavy duty black polythene garbage bags to keep them dry. Since November I have been putting down a layer of oak leaves and then pine shavings in the coop. Everyday, I cover poop and wet areas with more leaves or more pine shavings. AND every 3 or 4 days, put in a full layer of leaves or pine straw in turn. I have no objective reason for using pine shavings and leaves -- I think the leaves alone would be fine, but perhaps the pine shavings are more absorbent and the oak leave provide more of a barrier above any wet areas below. My ducks love turning over the leaves looking for insects [I don't think they find anything except ants.] When we have cold nights--we have only had mid 30s so far this winter but tomorrow night we are forecast a freeze--I add pine straw for the ducks to snuggle right down into. I will dig it all out at the end of February [weather permitting] and put it in my composter for a couple of months. I think that bales of wheat straw cost about the same as pine straw, but I am using pine straw as it composts really well and I dig out my compost from the composters and use it on my veggie garden. I also use oak leaves on the garden where the ducks have eaten all the weeds as ground covered with oak leaves looks a lot better than bare soil with a few remnants of plants sticking up. The oak leaves give the plants time to recover and grow again. I should also mention that my earth is very high sand content and so water does drain well below my duck coop and the ducks free range during the day.