What do you recommend for...

[Knighstar679]

Be careful with sand it is an abrasive @onaharley used it and is now dealing with bumble foot on 1 of her Pekins.

Would it be as high a risk if it isn’t the only thing they are walking on? I have read about bumble foot being caused by nearly everything I could put down.

I am thinking soft kiddy sand that is used for sand boxes because it’s supposed to be super fine. Then having areas of soft wood shavings for bedding down on.

Outside I am thinking a 15x 15 area of gravel that would surround a kitty pool to keep down the mud and yuck in the yard. The rest which would be another 35 feet out maybe 45 feet would be their area to be when I am not home.

I would like to make a another space beyond that for free range when I am home.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Kiddy sand is very fine and may be okay use river rock instead of gravel the river rock is round and won't have the sharp edges that gravel has. Hopefully @onaharley will be on I am not sure which sand she used but she has had a time with the bumble. A lot of members swear by sand though.

 

[onaharley]

Hi ya'll,

For over a year I used Leveling Sand (it's the kind of sand that you use to lay patio pavers down) it's more coarse then kids play sand. Up until I got a couple of new members in my flock, 3 ducklings in February, I had no problems with sand. The clean up was super easy!
My problem with bumblefoot began when i had to keep my oldest male locked up in his pen while i was at work because i had no way of separating my flock for free range each day. after about a week and a half, me and the husband came up with a plan to separate the whole entire back yard. Female and young ducks on one side and horny old Ted on the other. Come to find out when Ted doesn't have his mate with him....all he does is pace back and forth in trying to get to her, the constant back and forth on the sand was WAY to much for his webbers to with stand. i still have sand down but i have to also put straw down. this has mad it softer for their feet but a pain in the butt for cleaning up. Once i am able to have a flock that can live in harmony without having to be separated i will more then likely go back to just sand.

My only advise is if you choose sand, just make sure to check their 2 twice a week to make sure you don't end up with bumblefoot issues like i did.

 

[Miss Lydia]

 

[Knighstar679]

Hi ya'll,

For over a year I used Leveling Sand (it's the kind of sand that you use to lay patio pavers down) it's more coarse then kids play sand. Up until I got a couple of new members in my flock, 3 ducklings in February, I had no problems with sand. The clean up was super easy!
My problem with bumblefoot began when i had to keep my oldest male locked up in his pen while i was at work because i had no way of separating my flock for free range each day. after about a week and a half, me and the husband came up with a plan to separate the whole entire back yard. Female and young ducks on one side and horny old Ted on the other. Come to find out when Ted doesn't have his mate with him....all he does is pace back and forth in trying to get to her, the constant back and forth on the sand was WAY to much for his webbers to with stand. i still have sand down but i have to also put straw down. this has mad it softer for their feet but a pain in the butt for cleaning up. Once i am able to have a flock that can live in harmony without having to be separated i will more then likely go back to just sand.

My only advise is if you choose sand, just make sure to check their 2 twice a week to make sure you don't end up with bumblefoot issues like i did.

Thanks for the great information! Did you use sand around their pool too? If so how clean/ messy would you say it was?

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

I have sand and river rock around the pool. It is very easy to clean up - spray any poops and they dissolve into oblivion.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Does the sand wash away over time?

 

[Knighstar679]

I have sand and river rock around the pool. It is very easy to clean up - spray any poops and they dissolve into oblivion.

Did you get good coverage with sand and how thick did you go with it?

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

Did you get good coverage with sand and how thick did you go with it?

Mine is inside a small covered dog kennel. I used two bag of sand. It covered the area inside where the pool sits. Now, the river rock only covers under the pool and about 3" out. But, I only bought 1 bag which I think covers 3.5 cubic ft.
I found some at a better price and am planning on getting more. If you can buy in bulk somewhere, it would be better.
I am attaching a pic so you can see the area - it didn't cover a lot. I am thinking of covering out and around the kennel area and then leaving the rest grass or even areas for mulch. The pool is set up a bit different than shown here, closer to the back edge and there are stepping stones for them to get inside the pool. This pic doesn't show the sand or river rock though.

 

[Knighstar679]

Mine is inside a small covered dog kennel. I used two bag of sand. It covered the area inside where the pool sits. Now, the river rock only covers under the pool and about 3" out. But, I only bought 1 bag which I think covers 3.5 cubic ft.
I found some at a better price and am planning on getting more. If you can buy in bulk somewhere, it would be better.
I am attaching a pic so you can see the area - it didn't cover a lot. I am thinking of covering out and around the kennel area and then leaving the rest grass or even areas for mulch. The pool is set up a bit different than shown here, closer to the back edge and there are stepping stones for them to get inside the pool. This pic doesn't show the sand or river rock though.
View attachment 1452981

Did you bury your fencing? And how do you like the bird netting for the top?