Redoing duck run! I need tips, and coop ideas!

[Alaskan]

What density do you suggest?

48 square feet per duck kept the pen nice.

 

[KaleIAm]

48 square feet per duck kept the pen nice.

I have a 10x10 room in the barn and a 30x30 aviary for 3 spoiled ducks. I think it is a good amount of space. The ducks think they need to go for long walks everyday. Hmmmm.... Perspective.

 

[21hens-incharge]

You can solve this by digging a pit a few feet deep and cribing the walls with wood 2x then put a grate on top.

Not going to happen before spring. If they keep yelling all day I will be selling the lot. I do live in a neighborhood so loud is rude.

 

[KaleIAm]

@Weeg I have my aviary split into two. My ducks live in half while the grass grows back in the other. I reseed to help it along. My vet told me to either have more than one aviary or use a tractor to reduce parasite loads.

I also have a lot of extra space per duck and I have not once cleaned out my ducks' outside living area. If I spill food I clean that up, but I never had to clean up duck poop. Actually, I'm not even sure if most people do clean up outside areas?

For the mud I think if you have the area elevated higher than the surrounding areas water shouldn't pool there.

Good idea starting the run over, I know you've had problems with it.

 

[Weeg]

@Weeg I have my aviary split into two. My ducks live in half while the grass grows back in the other. I reseed to help it along. My vet told me to either have more than one aviary or use a tractor to reduce parasite loads.

I also have a lot of extra space per duck and I have not once cleaned out my ducks' outside living area. If I spill food I clean that up, but I never had to clean up duck poop. Actually, I'm not even sure if most people do clean up outside areas?

For the mud I think if you have the area elevated higher than the surrounding areas water shouldn't pool there.

Good idea starting the run over, I know you've had problems with it.

Thanks for the ideas! My biggest issue, is I have 8 ducks right now, and I have read that they need 15-20 feet of space per duck? I honestly don't even think my run is 15 feet per duck, or 120 feet. I would have to make it bigger if I wanted to get more. Does it really need to be 15-20 feet per duck, what do you think?

I am gonna work on the idea of a covered run, I also have gravel that I can use to raise the run in places, and then put the aged wood chips on top of that. Do think it would work to layer gravel then chips? I mostly worry about the mud swallowing the chips, so I feel like putting gravel down first would give me a bit of separation from the dirt when it gets muddy again. Hopefully I will get to build a covered run and I won't have to worry about that! What about coop cleanliness ideas? I have had bad luck with my duck coops, any ideas other then a walled in house?

 

[21hens-incharge]

Mine have about 30 square feet per duck in the run. I feel like that is about as crowded as it should be.

 

[Alaskan]

Mine have about 30 square feet per duck in the run. I feel like that is about as crowded as it should be.

I agree.. I think tighter spacing means it is horribly difficult to keep nice.

With 48square feet per duck i still had green stuff in their pen.

 

[3xhhheather]

Thanks for the ideas! My biggest issue, is I have 8 ducks right now, and I have read that they need 15-20 feet of space per duck? I honestly don't even think my run is 15 feet per duck, or 120 feet. I would have to make it bigger if I wanted to get more. Does it really need to be 15-20 feet per duck, what do you think?

I am gonna work on the idea of a covered run, I also have gravel that I can use to raise the run in places, and then put the aged wood chips on top of that. Do think it would work to layer gravel then chips? I mostly worry about the mud swallowing the chips, so I feel like putting gravel down first would give me a bit of separation from the dirt when it gets muddy again. Hopefully I will get to build a covered run and I won't have to worry about that! What about coop cleanliness ideas? I have had bad luck with my duck coops, any ideas other then a walled in house?

If you can dig out the mud til you hit hard ground again, then fill with sand/gravel, then top with woodchips it'll last longer. Depending on how soft the woodchips are I would recommend putting down some straw to help with their feet.

 

[MissMonty]

Around here mud is just the norm for us. We get snow but then we will get unseasonably warm weather right after. This is for ducks and non-duck areas. Something we do is throw straw down. We don't do a ton but just enough to cover the mud to help the animals and also come spring we are more likely to get grass regrowing because the top layer of dirt is a little more protected

 

[Runner duck mom]

Thanks for the ideas! My biggest issue, is I have 8 ducks right now, and I have read that they need 15-20 feet of space per duck? I honestly don't even think my run is 15 feet per duck, or 120 feet. I would have to make it bigger if I wanted to get more. Does it really need to be 15-20 feet per duck, what do you think?

I am gonna work on the idea of a covered run, I also have gravel that I can use to raise the run in places, and then put the aged wood chips on top of that. Do think it would work to layer gravel then chips? I mostly worry about the mud swallowing the chips, so I feel like putting gravel down first would give me a bit of separation from the dirt when it gets muddy again. Hopefully I will get to build a covered run and I won't have to worry about that! What about coop cleanliness ideas? I have had bad luck with my duck coops, any ideas other then a walled in house?

We use mulch in our duck run with landscape fabric underneath to keep the mulch from sinking into the ground.
Just be sure to overlap the fabric when it's layed down. If there are any gaps/ openings the ducks will find them and get down into the dirt.