Need help with keeping Cage dry????? NEW CAGE PICS( UPDATE )5-2-09

[goosedragon]

Quote:
What about sod? I could buy the grass already gone ...I can take off the tarp if need for sun??

Your money, your choice I would like to tell you that I grow sod inside in the winter and serve it as a treat to the birds (standard 11 x 22" trays) they usually manage to eat it all before the frost kills it.

 

[blueskylen]

i would say a layer of gravel and bark chips - the gravel would let the water drain and the big bark chips wouldn't be so hard on their feet and would dry out rather quickly.

 

[Luvducks]

The rain is a tough one because you have a nice pen there. On the dog house issue, I have a dog house in the duck pen and my four ducks DO go in and sleep there. I cannot let them out either because of the neighbors dogs and coyotes. We have 40 acres but dogs are always passing through.
The ducks will go in the dog house when they get frightened from dogs also.

We are very dry here so the rain is not a problem but we do get snow. I am looking into building a pen up off the ground with a wire bottem. Not thrilled to do this but would make sure the ducks have a solid surface to get on to. saw a couple of ideas where a hole is in the wire and the pool is set down into the wire.

You may be able to put your kennel up on concrete blocks and build some sort of bottem under it so it is not directly on the wet ground.

 

[LilRalphieRoosmama]

I have the exact same pen and as soon as mine are old enough (which would be when??) I'm planning to move them out there. I can tell you that I'm using the pellet bedding now in their brooder and it makes a HORRIBLE mucky mess within minutes, and I just have the small waterer in there. Once mine are in the pen and demolish the grass, I'll probably try sand and/or bark mulch.

I do need to put wire on top of mine though - what kind did you use? I have a trampoline tarp zip-tied on it now but it doesn't cover the corners.

 

[Feathered Wings]

Quote:
Have you tried gallon jugs as water's i used those when mine were young.
Just take a gallon jug and cut round holes in the side.
I stuck the jug in the cage to judge so i could see by the size of the duck and where to put the holes.
Make them just big enough for them to stick their heads in.
Don't make them too big or they will swim in it.

Mine are now older in a 10x11 ground pen and i use a 5 gallon bucket with round holes cut in the side.
I used one of those hole saw things you put in a drill.

I have it placed on a frame i built of 2x4 and covered in hardware cloth they can't make a mess and my pen is muck free.
I put a stepping stone so they can step up on the wire and drink.

I don't have a pool in my pen or mulch on the ground it's just dirt.

If you have a problem getting them to drink from the jug just pour water in it till they can see it running out the holes.
They should come right to it and begin to drink from it.

 

[LilRalphieRoosmama]

Great idea! Thanks!

 

[xfilesnumber1fan]

Quote:
I put chicken wire under my tarp..and have wired it all down then put the tarp on it...If a racoon or other wild animal wanted to they could crawl up the cage and it in...

 

[LilRalphieRoosmama]

Are you saying then, in your experience, don't bother with the chicken wire? I'm expecially worried because last year I had some banties in there. I don't know if something got in or the hen got out, but I found her dead in my veggie garden. I don't want to take that chance with the ducks. But if the chicken wire won't help...??

 

[Emzyyy]

You could take the pool out and just let them out when your home to swim and then put them back up.

 

[Stormdog]

What about a thick layer of sand to raise the ground in the pen an inch or two?

Sand is very porous, allowing the rain water to run right through. It dries quickly and... if you've ever had a cat, you already know... it allows "scooping" of duck mess as needed.

Your problem isn't the roof... it's the floor. Whatever you can do to raise it will eliminate rain-water, splashing or whatever pooling.