What to fill my duck run with? And progress pics

[shawluvsbirds]

You should fill your run with dux.

Your no help. . .no help at all
That's a given silly

 

[shawluvsbirds]

If we're being serious here, I'd just do dirt/leaves. Rocks get mixed into the bedding.

I need to get a better picture tomorrow to show you what I mean. I have a good four inches I need to fill up before I even start the deep litter method. I'm figuring just fill it with dirt. . .but just wondered if there was a better idea.

 

[shawluvsbirds]

I defiantly don't want them walking on rocks.

 

[BantyChooks]

Your no help. . .no help at all
That's a given silly

Why thank you.

I need to get a better picture tomorrow to show you what I mean. I have a good four inches I need to fill up before I even start the deep litter method. I'm figuring just fill it with dirt. . .but just wondered if there was a better idea.

None that I can think of. Plain old dirt is great.

I defiantly don't want them walking on rocks.

Why is it defiant to want them off rocks?

 

[WVduckchick]

I defiantly don't want them walking on rocks.

I have those smooth river rocks around the boat/pool where they get in and out to try to keep it a little cleaner. And less digging in the wet spots. My big duck run was all grass....for a couple months. Then it became crushed flat dirt. Well, flat with a bunch of moonscape pockets.
Whatever you put in there, overfill it, because they will pack it down.

 

[BantyChooks]

I have those smooth river rocks around the boat/pool where they get in and out to try to keep it a little cleaner. And less digging in the wet spots. My big duck run was all grass....for a couple months. Then it became crushed flat dirt. Well, flat with a bunch of moonscape pockets.
Whatever you put in there, overfill it, because they will pack it down.

It's a lost cause to try and keep a run grassy.

The chicken poo did something to the ground in my run... Grass is really struggling to come back, but the tomatoes were growing fantastically. Self seeded, even. So, I now have an unused run covered in tomato plants.

Shame the frost got them before I was able to harvest any red ones.

 

[duluthralphie]

Might I ask why not DE?

DE kills lice..or the prevailing theory is it does... I have no idea if is compacts, but if water runs through it, DE would be perfect.

If you have that much problems with lice, is anything going to slow or prevent them?

Slow dissolving Bleach Crystals? I really have not idea what you Southerners would do. We just let them freeze to death up here in about a month.

 

[shawluvsbirds]

Might I ask why not DE?

DE kills lice..or the prevailing theory is it does... I have no idea if is compacts, but if water runs through it, DE would be perfect.

If you have that much problems with lice, is anything going to slow or prevent them?

Slow dissolving Bleach Crystals? I really have not idea what you Southerners would do. We just let them freeze to death up here in about a month.

Oops. . I thought you were being sarcastic lol. .
The de I tried did not do anything to any bugs at all. And it kind of turned into a paste type stuff when it got wet. It does absorb some moisture I'll give it that.
What I'm trying to do is just build up a base to start from then employ deep litter on top. We had to dig out the ground where the run was going to be to get rid of all the junk that was in the ground. So now I gotta build it back up.

 

[duluthralphie]

Ahhh... I did not know your lice were immune to DE...or I forgot.

Can you put oak leaves down as a base? Are you going to use wood chips for the deep litter?

I know some will not like this idea...BUT what about a layer of cedar chips then covered by your deep litter. Cedar is suppose to repel bugs.. I know it is not good for chicks, but covered by Deep litter is might be ok....And it's not like you will have important valuable birds in there to try the cedar on if it fails.

 

[shawluvsbirds]

I have those smooth river rocks around the boat/pool where they get in and out to try to keep it a little cleaner. And less digging in the wet spots. My big duck run was all grass....for a couple months. Then it became crushed flat dirt. Well, flat with a bunch of moonscape pockets.
Whatever you put in there, overfill it, because they will pack it down.

I wouldn't be afraid of river rock. But I don't think I'll use any cause I wanna be able to scoop out the deep litter as needed and use it for compost. We will most likely make some concrete pavers around the pool to help with mud issue.