Welcome to my pond - Swim, wade, or sit on the bank

[orrpeople]

Welshies are pretty... i have Calls..
I may opt for sand here... just not sure yet..

I put some sand down in a couple really muddy areas, but it gets hot here and sand heats up quite a bit (think burning your feet at the beach!) So that's how I ended up with the DL. I especially like that it's not stinky.

 

[AngieMaesChix]

I have a few DL pens - I use straw, pine chips, and hay. Most of my pens free range or alternate free range days, so they're not spending a whole lot of time in them. So, I turn the litter in with the soil, kind of like I'm composting. My birds churn it up too, but can't quite get the dirt to mix, so I do that. We have ugly, hard, red clay soil, and now (in the pens is at least) it is a rich, dark brown with lots of earth worms.

Is your run covered? I was thinking a layer of sand mixed with the dirt in run followed by the wood shavings and then mixture of straw and leaves...and add as needed as I go..this is definitely for compost for garden later..I just don’t want to end up with a huge mess and stink because of rain..but from what I’ve read as long as you turn and add should be fine..I’ve searched so many threads but they all turn to a different discussion and the deep litter y’all is abandoned so I haven’t gotten much info from them..I think I’m gonna go for it can always add a tarp if it gets too wet ...and clean it out if it gets mildew or bad...their run is already turning kinda muddy and this solution could work for everyone them myself and my garden!!

 

[orrpeople]

Is your run covered? I was thinking a layer of sand mixed with the dirt in run followed by the wood shavings and then mixture of straw and leaves...and add as needed as I go..this is definitely for compost for garden later..I just don’t want to end up with a huge mess and stink because of rain..but from what I’ve read as long as you turn and add should be fine..I’ve searched so many threads but they all turn to a different discussion and the deep litter y’all is abandoned so I haven’t gotten much info from them..I think I’m gonna go for it can always add a tarp if it gets too wet ...and clean it out if it gets mildew or bad...their run is already turning kinda muddy and this solution could work for everyone them myself and my garden!!

They're not covered - unless you count the giant oak and pine trees overhead. I have some shade tarps that will go up in the summer. It's actually pretty amazing how nice and "clean" the DL coops are. I've been scolded by true DL peeps for turning my own soil (Let the chickens do it! They say) but ours is so rock hard they really can't give it a good turning. So, I do it. It's not hard and I can always stand for some extra exercise!

 

[Fields Mountain Farm]

I put some sand down in a couple really muddy areas, but it gets hot here and sand heats up quite a bit (think burning your feet at the beach!) So that's how I ended up with the DL. I especially like that it's not stinky.

I may need to reconsider the sand. The barn is well shaded but can still get quite warm... hmmmm

 

[AngieMaesChix]

Welshies are pretty... i have Calls..
I may opt for sand here... just not sure yet..

Oh I love the calls as well their in my future just don’t tell my man!!! He’s worried I’m gonna end up with a hundred birds maybe not 100 but between ducks and chickens and hopefully a couple peas later I see the number getting up there...yes I thought about just putting sand down as well it don’t get super hot but does get 90’s some 100’s but not many usually high 80’s..they can get under their coop which the sand would be cooler but I don’t want them to have to walk on hot sand and burn their tootsies...

 

[shawluvsbirds]

Good Morning Pond!! So I have a question do any of you use the deep litter method in your runs?? I want to do this for my ducks..my run is not covered..but I’ve seen where people have still used this method...I have a ton of leaves laying around that I can use just gotta let them get dried out rained pretty good last couple days..I also have a lot of sand from winter had 6 bags of it in the back of my truck...I live right on the river as well so I have natural material source there as well..I also have access to straw..and have wood shavings left from when they were in the brooder..I have no mulch type but could if would be better...my babies free range all day but I leave their run open and they go in and out all day.. a lot of their time is spent by my front steps watching me if I’m not outside lol they also beg for treats pic below.. I just realized that’s first pic I’ve shared with y’all and I LOVE taking pics of them!! Anyways I could probably make up some type of tarp roof to help with rain..not really worried about covering whole run yes we have predators I live in NW Ohio and on river but we’ve trapped and gotten rid of most except deer and I have a dog who won’t even let a squirrel in the yard..plus they pretty much have the run of the yard anyway..so with the materials I mentioned what would or do you use?? Rain will be slowing quite a bit here I’d rather not mess with a tarp roof and be able to keep it open but not sure how well it would work?? I’d be turning it daily as ducks flatten and mess everything quickly..oh and their names are Zig and Zag ..Zag being on the left a deal bigger too..I thought may be boy not so sure now..have a video wanna share with y’all but I can’t get into my YouTube new phone can’t remember password and wants me sign in thru Google..and I can’t get to the info working on it though..I’m starting to think they are same sex and I believe females..View attachment 1388997

I do a sort of half @ zz deep litter in mine. Stared with dry leaves then straw topped with pine shavings. I'm currently working on getting the straw out. It was nice for the winter but it clogs up the pond drain too bad when it gets in there. . and it's so lightweight it blows in there too much. I will stick with pine shavings from now on. . and dry leaves when they fall again.
I don't know if it's really considered deep litter method cause I don't throw scraps or anything else compost wise in there. . my ducks won't eat much but peas or meal worms. What I do is just stir it up every few days to try and keep it drying out and once every couple weeks I remove anything that's really saturated. . rake some of the shavings out of the house to replace it and add new shavings to the house. My run is partially covered so I'm usually just removing some from the uncovered end and raking everything back over it and starting again from the back. I'm seriously considering covering the rest of it though.

 

[Fields Mountain Farm]

Oh I love the calls as well their in my future just don’t tell my man!!! He’s worried I’m gonna end up with a hundred birds maybe not 100 but between ducks and chickens and hopefully a couple peas later I see the number getting up there...yes I thought about just putting sand down as well it don’t get super hot but does get 90’s some 100’s but not many usually high 80’s..they can get under their coop which the sand would be cooler but I don’t want them to have to walk on hot sand and burn their tootsies...

chicken math will bite ya on the butt quick..
Heres a few of my calls...
Playing in a puddle of course..

 

[Fields Mountain Farm]

I do a sort of half @ zz deep litter in mine. Stared with dry leaves then straw topped with pine shavings. I'm currently working on getting the straw out. It was nice for the winter but it clogs up the pond drain too bad when it gets in there. . and it's so lightweight it blows in there too much. I will stick with pine shavings from now on. . and dry leaves when they fall again.
I don't know if it's really considered deep litter method cause I don't throw scraps or anything else compost wise in there. . my ducks won't eat much but peas or meal worms. What I do is just stir it up every few days to try and keep it drying out and once every couple weeks I remove anything that's really saturated. . rake some of the shavings out of the house to replace it and add new shavings to the house. My run is partially covered so I'm usually just removing some from the uncovered end and raking everything back over it and starting again from the back. I'm seriously considering covering the rest of it though. View attachment 1389078 View attachment 1389079

The Duck Palace!
I love the duck palace...

 

[AngieMaesChix]

They're not covered - unless you count the giant oak and pine trees overhead. I have some shade tarps that will go up in the summer. It's actually pretty amazing how nice and "clean" the DL coops are. I've been scolded by true DL peeps for turning my own soil (Let the chickens do it! They say) but ours is so rock hard they really can't give it a good turning. So, I do it. It's not hard and I can always stand for some extra exercise!

There are quite a few trees here too our whole yard pretty much stays shaded actually annoys me sometimes can be hard to find a sunny spot to sit or lay out but different times day areas get sun..I’m gonna try it out I think it will work well..and I plan on turning mine as well I don’t think the ducks would be much good at it anyway ..I plan on using the same method when I get my chicks.. which by the way DM said I can get this year though I’m thinking I may wait not sure I wanna move another coop and fence etc when moving time comes..but I’ll probably break down I have all the materials to build the coop sooo why not

 

[WVduckchick]

My very own...!

Wonderful pics!! So happy for you!

So happy



See... do everything I want.... and I will be pleased.

Right!

Roosters. Brown Leghorn, Black Australorp or BLRW. Hens, RIR, SLW, Black Australorp, white rock, Black sexlink, EE, speckled Sussex or brown Leghorn. (I think that’s everyone) came from a brown egg so that rules out BL mom.

I'm with Al, I can't figure it out. Is the SS pure? I guess they carry some type of barring gene, but I'm not real sure on their genetics.

Ooooh.. love warm fresh baked pretzels ... never had em with choclate
We always do melted garlic butter or mustered.....

CINNAMON & SUGAR!!

Good Morning Pond!! So I have a question do any of you use the deep litter method in your runs?? I want to do this for my ducks..my run is not covered..but I’ve seen where people have still used this method...I have a ton of leaves laying around that I can use just gotta let them get dried out rained pretty good last couple days..I also have a lot of sand from winter had 6 bags of it in the back of my truck...I live right on the river as well so I have natural material source there as well..I also have access to straw..and have wood shavings left from when they were in the brooder..I have no mulch type but could if would be better...my babies free range all day but I leave their run open and they go in and out all day.. a lot of their time is spent by my front steps watching me if I’m not outside lol they also beg for treats pic below.. I just realized that’s first pic I’ve shared with y’all and I LOVE taking pics of them!! Anyways I could probably make up some type of tarp roof to help with rain..not really worried about covering whole run yes we have predators I live in NW Ohio and on river but we’ve trapped and gotten rid of most except deer and I have a dog who won’t even let a squirrel in the yard..plus they pretty much have the run of the yard anyway..so with the materials I mentioned what would or do you use?? Rain will be slowing quite a bit here I’d rather not mess with a tarp roof and be able to keep it open but not sure how well it would work?? I’d be turning it daily as ducks flatten and mess everything quickly..oh and their names are Zig and Zag ..Zag being on the left a deal bigger too..I thought may be boy not so sure now..have a video wanna share with y’all but I can’t get into my YouTube new phone can’t remember password and wants me sign in thru Google..and I can’t get to the info working on it though..I’m starting to think they are same sex and I believe females..View attachment 1388997

Ducks will FLATTEN anything you put down. I would suggest a combination of things. I have river rocks around the boat/pool (keeps most of the stuff out of the water), some straw on one end under a canopy, and they had some grass, but its pretty much gone and now flat bare ground. They range the whole yard most of the time, so I don't mess with their actual run too much.