Quack-shack

[gilbert2]

Since the ramp never worked, now I must catch them and throw them into the pool! "Throw" is a bit too much--rather, I gently toss them through the air, and they land in the water, flapping all the way.

 

[happy duck]

I have a ramp and they never us it! I have maybe seen them use it two times to get out. Now they just jump right in. Sometimes my pekin can't get in so I will have to pick him up and set him in. He hates being picked up, but forgets when he gets in the pool. Now I still have the ramp cuz my girls like to walk on it and sleep/drink from the pool. I also sit on it in my free time when I go to hang-out with my ducks!

 

[Enigmius]

Well, I guess that explains it.
I’m going to try and build steps instead. It will probably take up less room anyhow than the shallow slope ramp. I see them drinking out of and looking at the pond, I just know they secretly want up there.

The other day when I was spreading straw, Elvira(the tallest chocolate) got spooked, became airborne, and landed in the pond. And for three seconds she swam. You could literally see her brain cogs spinning in place. She must have been like, “wow this is great”! But after three seconds she remembered that the scary and hairless food-ape was still moving around; she quickly became airborn again then landed back on the ground where she could run amuck.

 

[happy duck]

Well, I guess the explains it.
I’m going to try and build steps instead. It will take up less room anyhow than the shallow slope ramp. I see them drinking out of and looking at the pond, I just know they secretly want up there.

The other day when I was spreading straw, Elvira(the tallest chocolate) got spooked, became airborne, and landed in the pond. And for three seconds she swam. You could literally see her brain cogs spinning in place. She must have been like, “wow this is great”! But after three seconds she remembered that the scary and hairless food-ape was still moving around and she quickly became airborn again then landed back on the ground where she could run amuck.

That is funny!!! Good luck on the steps and remember to post pics!!!!

 

[CrystaBub]

Yeah can't wait to see the pics hairless food ape! LOLOL

 

[shawluvsbirds]

Door is finished and finally hung. All walls sealed in hardware cloth. Now pond plumbing and acquiring rock.

That is all wonderful! I absolutely love it.

Well I fought so hard to finish and have the birds in there tonight. Unfortunate I’m losing light and I don’t have a magnet to run through the grass. I’m going to store to get now before I collapse.

In a last minute decision I decided to do half pebbles and half deep litter. But I’m a little upset. The rock that they dumped into my truck bed is not the rock I selected. It’s slightly bigger. It looked fairly smooth when I was shoveling it. But it’s not perfect.

Any how. Update pics.

That's about the same sort of rock I have. It hoses off pretty good. I think you'll be much happier with that than you would've been with pea gravel.

Your ducks look like rubber handled crowbars
Yours actualy seys quack shack i love it

Omg, j. . you always quack me up

Do you mean another ramp to the non-rock side? If that is what you mean, I might be able to do that.

I'm going to try the deep litter method on that side, but I'm not sure what to use. Straw, Hay? What is the best for a starter in the deep litter method.

I use pine shavings. I've used chopped straw which does have some benefits. It doesn't decompose as fast. .that is a plus and a minus. Plus is it lasts longer in the run and water kind of drains down below it. Minus is once it gets to the point you need to remove it it doesn't compost and break down well for a long time.
The other thing I didn't like about it is it is kind of slippery. Careful or you might bust your hairless ape arse walking around in there. also my pool is sunken in the ground with a drain installed in the bottom. Straw was a nightmare plugging up the drain

With your set up that shouldn't be a problem though.

Oh and uh... I’m glad I bought the magnet.

Wow! Ya that was a great idea.

Dern!
Would they use the stairs you made before you got rid of the pavers? Or did they not like those either?

You could just Make steps out of pavers or whatever on the non ramp side and leave the ramp for now.
If they start getting up there using the steps they may eventually use the ramp too. I found this out with my first little duck deck We made. They wouldn't use the ramps at first. . but after they got used to going up there via pavers they eventually gave the ramps a try and became pros at it.

Well, I guess that explains it.
I’m going to try and build steps instead. It will probably take up less room anyhow than the shallow slope ramp. I see them drinking out of and looking at the pond, I just know they secretly want up there.

The other day when I was spreading straw, Elvira(the tallest chocolate) got spooked, became airborne, and landed in the pond. And for three seconds she swam. You could literally see her brain cogs spinning in place. She must have been like, “wow this is great”! But after three seconds she remembered that the scary and hairless food-ape was still moving around; she quickly became airborn again then landed back on the ground where she could run amuck.

Too funny.

 

[Enigmius]

That is all wonderful! I absolutely love it.

That's about the same sort of rock I have. It hoses off pretty good. I think you'll be much happier with that than you would've been with pea gravel.


Omg, j. . you always quack me up

I use pine shavings. I've used chopped straw which does have some benefits. It doesn't decompose as fast. .that is a plus and a minus. Plus is it lasts longer in the run and water kind of drains down below it. Minus is once it gets to the point you need to remove it it doesn't compost and break down well for a long time.
The other thing I didn't like about it is it is kind of slippery. Careful or you might bust your hairless ape arse walking around in there. also my pool is sunken in the ground with a drain installed in the bottom. Straw was a nightmare plugging up the drain

With your set up that shouldn't be a problem though.

Wow! Ya that was a great idea.


You could just Make steps out of pavers or whatever on the non ramp side and leave the ramp for now.
If they start getting up there using the steps they may eventually use the ramp too. I found this out with my first little duck deck We made. They wouldn't use the ramps at first. . but after they got used to going up there via pavers they eventually gave the ramps a try and became pros at it.

Too funny.

There is some good info here.

 

[Enigmius]

One more question:
What would be a good rise and run for duckie stairs?

 

[Michael P]

Guessing, but a 3" riser and a 6" tread should work. My ducks easily go over the 8"high rim of the kiddie pool.

 

[shawluvsbirds]

One more question:
What would be a good rise and run for duckie stairs?

My opinion is just to make them as gradual and easy as possible.
The steeper the incline the less likely they will wanna use it And the more likely they will just jump off hurting their legs. I think my pavers are about 2 inches thick and they seem to be able to waddle up and down those pretty easily stacked up.