Tips on keeping duck enclosures clean?

[Luv Ducks]

What kind of rug do you use?

I know this question is not directed to me but I use indoor outdoor carpet in my pen that I can hose off. It has lasted and is much easier to clean off.

 

[Deemorgandy]

I know this question is not directed to me but I use indoor outdoor carpet in my pen that I can hose off. It has lasted and is much easier to clean off.

Thank you!

 

[Luv Ducks]

Thank you!

You are most welcome.

 

[Miss Lydia]

it's probably similar to when I told the vet my dog loves to eat chicken poop, she said well it's just recycled food.

 

[SmithsCoop41]

We are building our duck house and enclosure soon and I was wondering if anyone has any tips for keeping the enclosure clean, right now we have our 3 ducks (1 drake, 2 females) in a fenced off part of the chicken run area, and boy is it ever muddy in there when we have their kiddie pool filled, also, there are a good many flies in the half of the run that is occupied by the ducks currently, I'm assuming the ducks don't eat them as much as the chickens? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. My husband mentioned some kind of gravel to put down that can be hosed off and cleaned easily but my question is, what kind of gravel would be good to use for that with ducks? I know their feet are a bit more sensitive than chickens and I don't want them to get hurt.

Thanks in advance everyone!

Hey! So You've joined the duck band wagon I see! LOL I have 7 ducks of different breeds (2 Rouen Hens, 1 Rouen Drake, 2 Female Pekin Hens, and 2 Orphington Drakes), and then I have 11 Muscovy Waterfowl (The Muscovies aren't really ducks, even though most people think they are), and let me tell you both the ducks and especially the Muscovies are MESSY MESSY MESSY!!!!! I know how unpleasant it can be trying to keep their coops/nests/areas clean, well as clean as possible LOL. I was at first keeping my ducks inside their little "quack shack" as I like to call it, with hay on the ground and a old blueberry lug for them to lay their eggs in, even though they didn't always use it for that It's not anything fancy, just a little metal wire pen, like an outside metal kennel for a dog, except it has tall panels, and I've got a black tarp as the roof. Like I said, I was trying to keep them in there, to let them have a little area in the back by the chicken coop, but I mainly was using it for their protection against predators at night. Well, as you probably already know, ducks are messy and needless to say it didn't stay clean very long. Well, now I just let them free range, and although they do decide to go outside the main coop fence to stroll around the house here and there, they stick around inside the coop fence mostly. They seem happiest that way. But, I have the hardest time getting "clean" eggs from them little rascals! LOL and that's if I actually find the eggs they laid that day. Most days I find at least 2 eggs laid in different spots, and I'm not so sure if my white pekin ducks are laying yet anyway. My 2 Rouen hens are the ones that I know are laying. And most of the time they lay their eggs inside the coop fence or just outside of it. The reason they can go outside the coop fence is because we haven't finished it yet. My husband has finished the wood part of the fence but we are going to put like the dog metal fence behind it to keep them from getting out and predators in, although we really haven't had any predators problem....yet, except for few oak snakes back in the summer, but they never bothered the chickens or ducks, just my quail. BTW, I also have a little quail coop inside the big fence that goes around the whole area in back. The ground back there at the coop is just plain regular dirt, except for the small area right up against the coop building where I have pine bedding sprinkled out over the ground. It did help for a little while, but I've had to put another layer since then. The most recent layer I put was cedar bedding. I will put this out there-----I know it's not really good around chickens/ducks, and it's not recommended as a safe bedding, but I put it outside the actual coop so the chickens cannot get it, and all the ducks is probably gonna do is walk on it anyway. I know everyone isn't the same, and you have to figure out what works best for you and your feathered babies. But takeaway from my loooong post is maybe this: If you are going to have an enclosure, maybe use something like hay or straw or sand. Some people do the sand and scoop up the poop with like a litter scooper. I personally always love how clean and neat everything looks when I first put the pine bedding out and they haven't scratched or messed it up. LOL But to each their own. The other option of course is free ranging. Hope you find what works best and safest for you and your babies.

 

[SmithsCoop41]

it's probably similar to when I told the vet my dog loves to eat chicken poop, she said well it's just recycled food.

Muscovies are not really ducks, but waterfowl. I know I pretty much consider them ducks too, but technically they're not.

 

[Luv Ducks]

Muscovies are not really ducks, but waterfowl. I know I pretty much consider them ducks too, but technically they're not.

I have heard people argue that they are ducks. Their eggs taste like duck eggs and my Muscovy Ducks act just like my Mallard derived ones. They just don't quack loud but have that pretty trill to their voices. They also breed with my Mallard Ducks as to how I got my Mules.

 

[april29]

I am seriously considering buying one of those huge round galvanized stock tanks and using it for a duck pen. I dont want to be constantly cleaning out soiled bedding . This way I can just hose it down and drain it out by a hose attached to the drain out hole. I think the stock tank is 8 foot across. Plenty large enough for my 2 ducks I'm getting . I plan to build a second level inside the tank with a ramp going up into the second level. That will be a little house for them with a porch to hang out on. In the summer months I can fill the stock tank with water . In the winter maybe I'll just throw some straw in the tank too. I'll only have to clean the bedding out in winter . Summer will be filled with water with a dry 2nd level. I'll fence in the stock tank and have a metal roof.

 

[CoriM]

I am seriously considering buying one of those huge round galvanized stock tanks and using it for a duck pen. I dont want to be constantly cleaning out soiled bedding . This way I can just hose it down and drain it out by a hose attached to the drain out hole. I think the stock tank is 8 foot across. Plenty large enough for my 2 ducks I'm getting . I plan to build a second level inside the tank with a ramp going up into the second level. That will be a little house for them with a porch to hang out on. In the summer months I can fill the stock tank with water . In the winter maybe I'll just throw some straw in the tank too. I'll only have to clean the bedding out in winter . Summer will be filled with water with a dry 2nd level. I'll fence in the stock tank and have a metal roof.

No matter where you have your ducks you can easily do a quick clean-up every day of the dirty straw or shavings and add fresh. I have ten ducks and it takes me 5 minutes to do that each day and I have the pleasure of knowing they are sleeping in a clean and dry space. I use pine shavings and they work great. I started with straw and it's just harder to pick their poop up from. Ducks in general do not like ramps. They aren't like chickens and are pretty clumsy. You should have 4 square feet per duck for sleeping at the very minimum. If they're going to be inside during winter months you need much more space for them. I currently have ten ducks and think I am maxed out for my housing for what would be most comfortable to them, and that is considering that they get let out to play in the yard twice a day. Below is a picture of my duck house - we built an addition last year doubling the sleeping area - I also store shavings in there. As big as you can go is good and you'll be happy later on. Consider where their food and water will go. You don't want to keep it in their sleeping quarters as they will make a mess of that. You want to easily access it for frequent drinking water changes. Consider the fact that it's not recommended to get two ducks, but at least three. There are so many medical issues ducks can have and if something happens and you end up with a lone duck, it's heartbreaking for a single since they are flock animals. I think a galvanized stock tank is a great idea for a swimming pool set inside a run that also has dry sleeping quarters. You could inset it into the ground and create a drain. I have done that with a plastic pond liner in my run and it's very easy to drain, which I do every day since I have ten ducks and it's heavily used. I put pea gravel around the pond and that's easy to hose down once a day. (picture below shows my first attempt with straw, it's since been changed out for pea gravel and pine shavings on the other half and inside their enclosed sleeping area). I've never had an issue with smell. Ducks definitely take more effort due to the water issues and they make a big mess because they love to dig up the yard to get the bugs that are below. While my ducks spend a majority of their time in their run, they are also out in the yard for about 4 hours a day because their main passion in life is foraging in the grass. If they were stuck in their run all day they would be so bored. I can hear them quacking at me right now to get out . Whatever you make, consider all the predators in your neighborhood and make sure you build it so they are fully protected! I live in the woods and have lots of potential predators so my house is secure and I don't leave them unattended outside unless they are in their portable tractor. There are many threads on BYC showing various ideas for duck housing if you need
ideas!

 

[Luv Ducks]

I am seriously considering buying one of those huge round galvanized stock tanks and using it for a duck pen. I dont want to be constantly cleaning out soiled bedding . This way I can just hose it down and drain it out by a hose attached to the drain out hole. I think the stock tank is 8 foot across. Plenty large enough for my 2 ducks I'm getting . I plan to build a second level inside the tank with a ramp going up into the second level. That will be a little house for them with a porch to hang out on. In the summer months I can fill the stock tank with water . In the winter maybe I'll just throw some straw in the tank too. I'll only have to clean the bedding out in winter . Summer will be filled with water with a dry 2nd level. I'll fence in the stock tank and have a metal roof.

Does it get very hot where you are? I am where the metal would get hot and the ducks would probably cook with no good ventilation. I hope where you are it works well with you. I have never used straw being afraid of mold that some people have gotten. I use sand in my pen along with large wood shavings from TSC in their houses. I have 19 ducks. Good luck with your idea.