What to fill my duck run with? And progress pics

[duluthralphie]

Goose greaseand how does one go about extracting the grease from the goose exactly?
Never mind don't answer that

I would be glad to help you get the grease from the goose.....

 

[WVduckchick]

you might be able to skip the mats, but i was thinking it would help keep the ground where you want it and no tunneling to china

ETA - ducks arent scratchers like chickens so the mesh should survive the ducks so long as secured in place well (stakes or whatever)

very good points. I love your mat layering idea.

Putting the wood chips directly on top of the soil is supposed to improve the soil attracting worms to feed on nutrients filtering down through the composting deep litter and further improving drainage. Is the hard layer formed by fine chips beneficial in your location?

PS my lack of ducks isn't because I wouldn't love some.

Wood chips from the community composting site directly on soil worked great for me. It was a mix of sizes of pieces and sticks and leaves. Mostly from the Village's tree trimming. Just be careful of fresh chips re fungal spore 'blooms'.

Yea, why DON'T you have ducks??

Well, maybe in humid MN, those things happen. In arid CO though, moisture does not last. I will say that whatever is in my ducks' excrement, is flourishing in the straw. But a good compacted layer of composted straw does not scare me at all. And my ducks have never had any illnesses nor bumblefoot, nor anything!
This straw comes in a compacted state, inside sealed plastic, same as the pine shavings do. In fact the pine is $2/bag cheaper than the straw. Sorry, ralphie, I just am not scared, since I have been doing things this way for 5-years, and have never had a duck health problem.......not counting that owl who raided the place last year. That is why I am reinforcing the coops.
Your reply about buying bleach in 55-gallon drums was a bit harsh, and scared some people. Obviously, you have a ton more knowledge than I do. But I am observant and conscientious, and I take good care of my flock, even if it is not the way you do things.

I have some straw under an old window awning on the ground. They shovel around in it, lay eggs in it sometimes. I was going to ask about mold if it gets wet, but i guess that as addressed.

I am sorry you have not been with this "group" as long as all of us have. If you had you would understand the joke behind it... .Some here think I am a bit of a germophobe and buy bleach in wholesale amounts.... The person that was the butt of that joke was me... Because of my tad over the top approach to germs and cleanliness in hatching according to others on this thread...

Sorry, you did not get it and misunderstood the intent...

Maybe you need a Shaw/Banty/Liz/etc. disclaimer in your signature line.

Uh oh. Your golden? . you don't have hepatitis do you? That's not pretty.

He had a golden shower.

Ok ok ok. . . talking it over with husband. What If we went and picked up some large flat rock and lay it out to take up some of the volume and space. Then a layer of dirt. . shavings on top of that. That way when I want to clean it out I can just shovel or rake down till I hit rock and it won't get mixed in.
We can usually pick rock up from someone's field for free vs having to buy SO much dirt or rock.
Whatcha all think?

Sounds like a good start. Will they be allowed out into the grass at all, or will they spend the majority of their time in the run?

 

[shawluvsbirds]

very good points. I love your mat layering idea.



Yea, why DON'T you have ducks??




I have some straw under an old window awning on the ground. They shovel around in it, lay eggs in it sometimes. I was going to ask about mold if it gets wet, but i guess that as addressed.



Maybe you need a Shaw/Banty/Liz/etc. disclaimer in your signature line.



He had a golden shower.



Sounds like a good start. Will they be allowed out into the grass at all, or will they spend the majority of their time in the run?

I'll let them out in the grass still when I'm able to be outside with them. But with winter coming on that won't be a lot of time so I want them comfortable in there.
By next spring we hope to have a fence up over there around the pond to where they can free range a lot more but still have some safety.

 

[shawluvsbirds]

very good points. I love your mat layering idea.



Yea, why DON'T you have ducks??




I have some straw under an old window awning on the ground. They shovel around in it, lay eggs in it sometimes. I was going to ask about mold if it gets wet, but i guess that as addressed.



Maybe you need a Shaw/Banty/Liz/etc. disclaimer in your signature line.



He had a golden shower.



Sounds like a good start. Will they be allowed out into the grass at all, or will they spend the majority of their time in the run?

I was going to say golden shower but thought I shouldn't say that. . .but You go girl

 

[duluthralphie]

I'll let them out in the grass still when I'm able to be outside with them. But with winter coming on that won't be a lot of time so I want them comfortable in there.
By next spring we hope to have a fence up over there around the pond to where they can free range a lot more but still have some safety.

Does it actually get below freezing during the "winter"?

 

[shawluvsbirds]

Does it actually get below freezing during the "winter"?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_of_Missouri
Yes!

 

[duluthralphie]

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_of_Missouri
Yes!

Average low is 25 degrees!!!! Geeesh .....that's like a nice June evening here.

 

[shawluvsbirds]

Average low is 25 degrees!!!! Geeesh .....that's like a nice June evening here.

Anything below 32 is freezing !
Below zero is is just terrible.

 

[shawluvsbirds]

and yes.. We DO get snow also

 

[duluthralphie]

Almost 2 weeks with snow...wow,HOW DO YOU SURVIVE IT?