Petting zoo smell

[batteryman17]

Any suggestions on how to eliminate the petting zoo smell from my ducks pen? We clean it everyday but the smell is horrible.. There outside play area is on grass we also spray that down as well but can't seem to get that smell to go away..
Any ideas would be greatly appreciated

 

[brandeesbunch]

What do you use for bedding?

 

[batteryman17]

Hay but we change it every morning

 

[Orca5094]

I would switch to wood shavings for the bedding. It's easier to clean up (just pick up the poops on top every day and add some new shavings), and it also helps with the smell.

Ducks are kind of stinky creatures, the key is to clean more often if you can. Also, what are you feeding them? Their poo will be much stinkier when they get more protein (like eating snails, slugs, etc). If they are just eating pelleted food their poo won't be as bad.

 

[TLWR]

How many ducks?
How big a space?
Is there food and water in the space?

 

[batteryman17]

4 ducks
The space is probably around 16ft/16ft
And food and water is in there shelter not in there play area where there pool is

 

[Amiga]

You know, I have found that if an area does not drain well, it gets smelly. Lack of oxygen plus organic material makes stinky.

So, some ideas I go by are - make sure the pen slopes so water runs off, use a firm high-carbon base like chopped straw, chopped leaves (oak really reduces odor), I have even started trying coir fiber in some places.

Spilled feed contributed quite a bit to the aroma, so raking that up may help.