What in Ducky Heck is this!?

[Kusanar]

I have a pigeon in the house, and I keep him in a few inches of sweet PDZ. his poop just dries up and the sand takes all of the moisture to the bottom... maybe something you could do with her?

 

[DuckyDoodles]

I have a pigeon in the house, and I keep him in a few inches of sweet PDZ. his poop just dries up and the sand takes all of the moisture to the bottom... maybe something you could do with her?

And once again you come through with amazing input! What is this sweet PDZ you speak of? Is that what I would google or is it known as anything else?

Because even if I can’t find this sweet PDZ magic you speak of, I did NOT consider sand and I would be soooo happy to do the sand treatment. I’ve seen a few YouTube videos (from duck owners or homesteaders) who use sand in their coops/runs but some of the commenters notes it wasn’t good for the ducks’ feet in the long run. But since this is only until she’s healed (or unless otherwise given long-term-use-thumbs-up by you experienced and knowledgeable people) I think the recovery period should be okay.

 

[Kusanar]

And once again you come through with amazing input! What is this sweet PDZ you speak of? Is that what I would google or is it known as anything else?

Because even if I can’t find this sweet PDZ magic you speak of, I did NOT consider sand and I would be soooo happy to do the sand treatment. I’ve seen a few YouTube videos (from duck owners or homesteaders) who use sand in their coops/runs but some of the commenters notes it wasn’t good for the ducks’ feet in the long run. But since this is only until she’s healed (or unless otherwise given long-term-use-thumbs-up by you experienced and knowledgeable people) I think the recovery period should be okay.

Sweet PDZ is also sold under the name Stall Dry and is generally sold in the horse section of Tractor Supply type stores. It is a sand made of a mineral called zooilite (I may have spelled that wrong) that actually traps ammonia and won't let it offgas into the air. I was thinking with your setup, you could fill a tray that is larger than your crate with the PDZ and then press the crate down into the "sand" so that she's not on the bars but on the sand, then just lift the cage out and muck out the sand to clean. I use a kitty litter scoop to clean and it gets nearly all of the pigeon poop, I imagine her poop is much larger.

 

[DuckyDoodles]

Sweet PDZ is also sold under the name Stall Dry and is generally sold in the horse section of Tractor Supply type stores. It is a sand made of a mineral called zooilite (I may have spelled that wrong) that actually traps ammonia and won't let it offgas into the air. I was thinking with your setup, you could fill a tray that is larger than your crate with the PDZ and then press the crate down into the "sand" so that she's not on the bars but on the sand, then just lift the cage out and muck out the sand to clean. I use a kitty litter scoop to clean and it gets nearly all of the pigeon poop, I imagine her poop is much larger.

Deities love you! I will absolutely look for that today! If it’s not exorbitantly priced I might look into getting a couple extras for the flooring of the patio.

The crate she’s in has that plastic bottom tray in it so (thankfully) she’s not on the wires themselves; I probably would’ve fashioned some redneck chicken wire contraption and put plastic and cardboard down on the bottom. (I’m a proud redneck engineer so that’s what I’m referring to LOL). Couldn’t imagine the wired bottom would be comfy on flat footed birds.

Do you scoop the poo/urine each day? And this is where my question to @casportpony comes in (re: poo LOL)

I’ve had to make Due with my screened in porch as a duck coop this winter. Latching doors, and covered in plastic except the top triangular vented screening section). It’s superbly large for them so space isn’t an issue. But the poop, my god. I’ve tried pine shavings, but it’s just turns to sludge after water droplets, excrements touch it. So then I went to straw. Straw is not very absorbent at all but it is far easier for me to rake out. What I’ve been doing for last couple of months has been a tiny light sprinkle of the shavings and then topped off with a medium level of straw and then I rake out any wet spots or poo every.stinking.day.

I’ve read about the deep litter method with chickens but read (or what I believe I’ve read) is that it’s not the greatest for ducks since their paddle feet just mush stuff down as opposed to turning things over like a chickens foot. Plus, I suspect with the two pooping wonders, I’d have to add an inch a week or so.

The flooring of the patio is concrete and I’m already aware I’ll have to power wash the residual poop out of the floor and random smudges on the sides but I’ve been trying to be diligent on removing waste. I know that as an animal they’re pretty nasty (as I’m learning first hand) but I guess I worry I’m over doing it. Like I don’t want them to be living in filth but if I *DONT* have to rake the stuff every day, I could be okay with that too lol.

So recommendations for what will (eventually be) a 6 duck flock, with a wooden coop (I have treated wood for the bottom and will be sealing with a latex type bottom to *hopefully* make it hose worthy when needed). I’m seemingly days away from having the coop built so I can get the girls off the patio and in a more appropriate coop (although they will probably miss the space of the patio LOL).

Just trying to figure out what level of poop/urine is normal/acceptable and/or how you manage it?

 

[onaharley]

okay where did you find ducklings!?

I’ve been stalking Metzer (being this is my first time buying ducklings, I know no other places that I would like to try... some are sketchy-ish)

The duckies im wanting aren’t available until April now

I order 2 females from Metzer in February, I dont want to discourage you and i'm sure shipping in April is better then shipping in February but unfortunately one did not make it during transit. i wish i would have order from meyer hatchery because they are like a 2 hour drive from me in Ohio with the option to pick up your VS mailing. I blame the USPS, not the hatchery for my misfortune - but that's for another time on another thread...

 

[Kusanar]

Deities love you! I will absolutely look for that today! If it’s not exorbitantly priced I might look into getting a couple extras for the flooring of the patio.

The crate she’s in has that plastic bottom tray in it so (thankfully) she’s not on the wires themselves; I probably would’ve fashioned some redneck chicken wire contraption and put plastic and cardboard down on the bottom. (I’m a proud redneck engineer so that’s what I’m referring to LOL). Couldn’t imagine the wired bottom would be comfy on flat footed birds.

Do you scoop the poo/urine each day? And this is where my question to @casportpony comes in (re: poo LOL)

I’ve had to make Due with my screened in porch as a duck coop this winter. Latching doors, and covered in plastic except the top triangular vented screening section). It’s superbly large for them so space isn’t an issue. But the poop, my god. I’ve tried pine shavings, but it’s just turns to sludge after water droplets, excrements touch it. So then I went to straw. Straw is not very absorbent at all but it is far easier for me to rake out. What I’ve been doing for last couple of months has been a tiny light sprinkle of the shavings and then topped off with a medium level of straw and then I rake out any wet spots or poo every.stinking.day.

I’ve read about the deep litter method with chickens but read (or what I believe I’ve read) is that it’s not the greatest for ducks since their paddle feet just mush stuff down as opposed to turning things over like a chickens foot. Plus, I suspect with the two pooping wonders, I’d have to add an inch a week or so.

The flooring of the patio is concrete and I’m already aware I’ll have to power wash the residual poop out of the floor and random smudges on the sides but I’ve been trying to be diligent on removing waste. I know that as an animal they’re pretty nasty (as I’m learning first hand) but I guess I worry I’m over doing it. Like I don’t want them to be living in filth but if I *DONT* have to rake the stuff every day, I could be okay with that too lol.

So recommendations for what will (eventually be) a 6 duck flock, with a wooden coop (I have treated wood for the bottom and will be sealing with a latex type bottom to *hopefully* make it hose worthy when needed). I’m seemingly days away from having the coop built so I can get the girls off the patio and in a more appropriate coop (although they will probably miss the space of the patio LOL).

Just trying to figure out what level of poop/urine is normal/acceptable and/or how you manage it?

I used to have the pigeon on newspaper, had to change it 2 times a day due to the wet droppings (pigeons do hard little dog poop looking things, but they also poop out what appears to be pure water and it seems like the water is about 4-5 times the amount of poop) all over the place and his feet were always gross from walking on it... Tried Puppy Pads, same deal, went to sand (PDZ) and now I clean about once a week. He has a branch he can roost on, so most of the poop is behind the branch, but it stays MUCH drier in there, even when he makes a mess with his water (I think he takes a bath in his water dish) and dumps about 2 cups of water out. The water just goes down into the sand and eventually evaporates but it's quite dry on top now other than the little bit around the water dish and that part is just damp, not soggy. Now, this is 1 pigeon, so you will likely have to clean every other day or so, but, if your area is bigger, then everything should be more spread out and maybe you can still go longer. The pigeon is in a Rubbermaid tub about 18" by 24", so not a lot of room there (he will be moved to a real loft in spring, this is just better than nothing).

Oh, and make sure you get the granular PDZ, the powder is NOT what you want! My Tractor Supply has a 25 lb bag of the granular for $10, so not CHEAP but not super expensive either. Can probably mix with a course construction sand to make it go further.

 

[onaharley]

Doing great! got me some ducklings so i am real busy......

Ohhh, that question was for theOP and not me and miss Lydia

 

[DuckyDoodles]

I used to have the pigeon on newspaper, had to change it 2 times a day due to the wet droppings (pigeons do hard little dog poop looking things, but they also poop out what appears to be pure water and it seems like the water is about 4-5 times the amount of poop) all over the place and his feet were always gross from walking on it... Tried Puppy Pads, same deal, went to sand (PDZ) and now I clean about once a week. He has a branch he can roost on, so most of the poop is behind the branch, but it stays MUCH drier in there, even when he makes a mess with his water (I think he takes a bath in his water dish) and dumps about 2 cups of water out. The water just goes down into the sand and eventually evaporates but it's quite dry on top now other than the little bit around the water dish and that part is just damp, not soggy. Now, this is 1 pigeon, so you will likely have to clean every other day or so, but, if your area is bigger, then everything should be more spread out and maybe you can still go longer. The pigeon is in a Rubbermaid tub about 18" by 24", so not a lot of room there (he will be moved to a real loft in spring, this is just better than nothing).

Oh, and make sure you get the granular PDZ, the powder is NOT what you want! My Tractor Supply has a 25 lb bag of the granular for $10, so not CHEAP but not super expensive either. Can probably mix with a course construction sand to make it go further.

You have changed my whole outlook on life right now and I will totally get the granules tomorrow. Pronto!

 

[DuckyDoodles]

Ohhh, that question was for theOP and not me and miss Lydia

Zero objections though! Heard about baby duckies which is always the goal here, no!?

 

[onaharley]

Zero objections though! Heard about baby duckies which is always the goal here, no!?

Thank you for understanding my friend!