What to put in duck run?

[Thedogsbark]

Currently we're looking into putting sand in our chicken pen, but I'm not sure if ducks can have sand as well or not. Right now we just have dirt in their run. The ground where their run is is really hard and near impossible to rake up. We can't move the pen because where it is now is the only shaded part of the yard. If they can have sand, which types work best? If they can't have sand, what are some other things we can use instead of just dirt?

 

[quackingdom]

Sand should work fine. Just remember that they'll make it wet around any water source.

What if you move the pen and make shade, at least to cover part of the pen? You could lean a few sheets of plywood against the fence if it can support that, or you could do something like this:

 

[Thedogsbark]

Actually our pen is covered with a tarp. I was thinking sand may not be the greatest though because we pull back the top tarp when it rains. If we don't it gets too heavy and we don't want it to break the chicken wire on top and collapse. What about pea gravel? I saw a few people mention it. Thought maybe it would work well because if it rained the rain would just clean the gravel. I'm worried about it hurting their feet to walk on though. If we go with sand would something like this work?
https://www.lowes.com/pd/QUIKRETE-50-lb-All-Purpose-Sand/3048145

 

[chickens really]

I have gravel in my Run....I hose it down daily to wash away all the Duck poop....

 

[mobius]

And gravel comes in different sizes..you could put larger underneath and smaller on top...

 

[MotherOfDragonz]

Seconding the gravel.

 

[quackingdom]

I'm worried about it hurting their feet to walk on though.

I was wondering about it hurting their feet, too. But if @chickens really doesn't have trouble, then I don't think you would either. I still like grass best.

My two-day-old ducklings have been running around on gravel a lot this morning and several of them have red feet now. I guess it just affects their tender, non-callused feet more.

 

[MotherOfDragonz]

I was wondering about it hurting their feet, too. But if @chickens really doesn't have trouble, then I don't think you would either. I still like grass best.

My two-day-old ducklings have been running around on gravel a lot this morning and several of them have red feet now. I guess it just affects their tender, non-callused feet more.

Go with peagravel or river rock. You can pick it up at Home Depot for 3$ a bag. It's rounded so it shouldn't hurt their feet.

 

[Houndsview]

I used sand at first in half of my pen and have found even picking up the poop daily and raking it, it ends up wet, and very smelly (especially near the water). The other half of my pen is pine straw and that has worked well for areas that are not directly under the water. The house has pine shavings and has stayed nice and dry.

 

[Thedogsbark]

I think going with gravel sounds like a better idea then. Will they try to eat the gravel though?