The Duck Thread

[Miss Lydia]

I have another question. My ducks have a shed, a fenced in area, a pool and I've recently started leaving their gate open so then can walk around my yard. Well my question is, how do I keep their smell to a minimum?? Their shed and fenced in area and pool smell horrible!! I have to lock them in their shed at night time but during the day they are free

There is a product called barn lime at TSC it's over where they keep their feed. there is another name for it but don't remember, but be sure to ask for the lime that is safe to use around your flock, good cleaning and removing old messy bedding helps and a good hose to wash down the outside area. I use river rock[Lowes] for the outside areas I put down landscaping material then a good layer of river rock it's round so doesn't cut up their feet. then in the evenings after they have gone to bed i use the hose and wash it all off. Make sure the house they sleep in has good ventilation so all the fumes go out and not cause respiratory issues. for them and you. as for pool I know here I have to dump the water at least every other day for it to not smell and be safe for them since they drink it.
and Welcome to BYC

PS you even want good ventilation in winter.

 

[duckies1230]

I have another question. My ducks have a shed, a fenced in area, a pool and I've recently started leaving their gate open so then can walk around my yard. Well my question is, how do I keep their smell to a minimum?? Their shed and fenced in area and pool smell horrible!! I have to lock them in their shed at night time but during the day they are free

I was told when I first got mine that they require at least an hour cleaning twice a day, at a minimum. Mine love fresh water, they have three pools changed daily. Spit clean their bedding twice a day, clean up their poo in their living area 2 or 3 x daily. Every Sunday, I scrub everything out, hose it down, bleach clean it, they get new towels and blankets daily and their laundry done daily. Their " bedroom" is in my basement, and they roam freely in the yard all day unless I'm at work or it's nastt outside! Ducks require constant care basically, its a lot of work!!!

 

[duckies1230]

@ slordaz
Is it safe for my other duck to eat the garlic and eggs too? Or is it best to separate them for breakfast?

 

[Miss Lydia]

I was told when I first got mine that they require at least an hour cleaning twice a day, at a minimum. Mine love fresh water, they have three pools changed daily. Spit clean their bedding twice a day, clean up their poo in their living area 2 or 3 x daily. Every Sunday, I scrub everything out, hose it down, bleach clean it, they get new towels and blankets daily and their laundry done daily. Their " bedroom" is in my basement, and they roam freely in the yard all day unless I'm at work or it's nastt outside! Ducks require constant care basically, its a lot of work!!!

duckies1230 you should talk to @Amiga she has her ducks in her basement also and I don't think she works near as much as you keeping everything nice for them, I believe she could give you some tips on making your work alot easier and not as long. So you could spend more time enjoying them. [Not that what your doing isn't a good thing it is just seems your spending way to much time cleaning up]

 

[Miss Lydia]

@ slordaz
Is it safe for my other duck to eat the garlic and eggs too? Or is it best to separate them for breakfast?

Do your ducks eat cooked eggs? I have never been able to get mine to. My chickens love them though.

 

[Amiga]

Can anyone tell me what Breed of duck these are? I know they are crested and they stand more upright than my pekins do.

Likely Crested Runners.

 

[Amiga]

I have another question. My ducks have a shed, a fenced in area, a pool and I've recently started leaving their gate open so then can walk around my yard. Well my question is, how do I keep their smell to a minimum?? Their shed and fenced in area and pool smell horrible!! I have to lock them in their shed at night time but during the day they are free

Horrible smell means not enough air, too much nitrogen.

What bedding are you using, how deep, how often is it maintained, and how?

I am not judging - I am trying to "see" where you might make some changes to make your life - and theirs - happier.

So, here are some thoughts and concepts I offer based on my experience.

Dry oak leaves really reduce smell in the area around the swim pans
The pen needs to be slightly sloped, even 2% works well
Stiff carbon-containing material will help by providing air spaces and C for soil microbes that smell pleasant to work on the poop
I love my cultivator - I can quickly fluff bedding and that keeps odor away
Sweet PDZ for covered areas and indoors - I put it under the bedding when I change the bedding out
Spot-picking damp manure spots makes a big difference and takes just a few minutes
Watering station - feeding station - spilled water and feed make more stink than manure in my experience. A watering - feeding station keeps those things confined and easy to clean
Sawdust pellets absorb loads of water
Coconut coir is nice and stiff and I have started using it in the day pen near the swim pans (the pans themselves are on smooth pea gravel, on a slope - water coming off the day pen goes into a shallow channel into a garden where the plants are now mammoth!

 

[Julie Birb]

Looking great. A rehabber was my first thought but any responsibly involved party just wanted to let things run their course. From what I understand the first day it didn't eat, kinda hard when your only a few days old and no one is there to show you whats OK. But once he figured out what a piece of food was, all about it. Spent some time last night whistling back and forth. I warned the Mrs. We might have a new house duck.

. Hate to have to work this early, its talking to me right now lol. Plenty of family here today for company, cant wait to get back this afternoon.

Awww, so sweet you couldn't wait to get home to the little wood duck yesterday.

 

[Amiga]

@Miss Lydia , it is possible duckies1230 is more fastidious than I am

- she is caring and conscientious. And here, I rarely have any odor issues or any other issues - I am pleased to let anyone who comes by come into the night shelter in the basement. People always remark on how clean and fresh it is, so I think I am doing okay.

I might suggest that duckies1230 try using vinegar instead of bleach, though - for the sake of her lungs and those of the ducks. I read a scientific paper recently that declared that a mix of vinegar and salt is as effective against microbes as bleach (if I recall correctly). Since I have had asthma, and I cannot breathe if I am exposed to bleach fumes, I use alternatives.

Oh, and in a mycology (fungus) class, we did an exercise in which we learned that bleach is not very effective against fungi. How about that!!! What works much better is borax. So if one is concerned about mildew and mold, borax in water is better - I use that sometimes when I do a serious clean out, and I keep a spray bottle of about 8 ounces of vinegar and 30 drops of tea tree oil (20 drops) and spearmint oil (10 drops). I spray that on walls, fabric, it seems to keep mildew at bay.

I do spot pick, too, that really makes a difference, fluff the bedding, use the watering station, I change out the towel dividers probably weekly - I have started using the kraft paper from the shavings instead of towels - they don't get as dusty and I can compost them when I change them out.

 

[Miss Lydia]

@Miss Lydia , it is possible duckies1230 is more fastidious than I am

- she is caring and conscientious. And here, I rarely have any odor issues or any other issues - I am pleased to let anyone who comes by come into the night shelter in the basement. People always remark on how clean and fresh it is, so I think I am doing okay.

I might suggest that duckies1230 try using vinegar instead of bleach, though - for the sake of her lungs and those of the ducks. I read a scientific paper recently that declared that a mix of vinegar and salt is as effective against microbes as bleach (if I recall correctly). Since I have had asthma, and I cannot breathe if I am exposed to bleach fumes, I use alternatives.

Oh, and in a mycology (fungus) class, we did an exercise in which we learned that bleach is not very effective against fungi. How about that!!! What works much better is borax. So if one is concerned about mildew and mold, borax in water is better - I use that sometimes when I do a serious clean out, and I keep a spray bottle of about 8 ounces of vinegar and 30 drops of tea tree oil (20 drops) and spearmint oil (10 drops). I spray that on walls, fabric, it seems to keep mildew at bay.

I do spot pick, too, that really makes a difference, fluff the bedding, use the watering station, I change out the towel dividers probably weekly - I have started using the kraft paper from the shavings instead of towels - they don't get as dusty and I can compost them when I change them out.

What are the dividers for A?

I agree duckies1230 is caring and conscientious but I wouldn't want her to get burned out working to keep everything spot free,
some times that makes folks want to throw in the towel so to speak.