What to put in duck run?

[Amiga]

With great respect I want to respond to subhanalah that my method of adding high-carbon materials to the duck pen results in a good earthy smelling soft moist but not sodden surface that worms are drawn to, that the ducks can forage in. It is an aerobic medium, where a natural composting process takes place.

 

[subhanalah]

Thank you Amiga for pointing this out! You have ample space and not too high of a biological load on the land, it appears to me that may not be as accurate regarding OPs set up, and more drastic measures are necessary.I may have my mental picture all wrong and I apologize if this is the case!

 

[HollyDuckFarmer]

The other factor in this situation is what type of soil or ground one is proposing to do this on. For example, here in Michigan, we have many types of soil here, dense, heavy clay (what I have), sand, rock. What works here might not work elsewhere. I have done the landscape fabric on top of my clay, then pea gravel, then sand. I like it and it works here. Of course, some form of shade protection does need to be offered for summer.

 

[creaturelife]

i really dont care for the run being wet i just want the mud gone so i was thinking if i put mulch and pee gravel over that would it work or could i use some thing else i m just trying to come up with some thing to get my mud back down so i can walk in there with out coming out and having to wash my boots but amiga i like the way your run is how long did it take your run to look like that

 

[Amiga]

This surface is four years old. But It did not take more than a couple of months to get it just about right. It keeps getting better, as more worms come in - and that improves the drainage.

In your case, I would think about the sawdust pellets - I use them elsewhere around our place if a spot gets swampy. They suck up quite a bit of water and are non toxic. Worst issue is one needs to wipe a little sawdust off the shoes instead of a bunch of mud. It also breaks down over time and becomes nice soil.

I did learn from experience that if you use a few inches of just sawdust pellets, they can become compacted and the surface is more firm than when leaves and chopped straw are added. Since I wanted aerobic composting, I used a cultivator to break that compacted surface up, bit by bit, and started using the other materials that don't compact so much.

Since I am the labor force, most of my projects involve baby steps.

 

[Amiga]

creaturelife, is there a downhill side to the pen that could be used to direct water away? I cannot recall what the weather is like for you right now, so bear with me. If someone suggested I dig a swale today I would laugh out loud. Frozen ground under two feet of snow.

So you may want to go with the sawdust pellets as Phase I. It is not instant, but it is pretty quick.

Not to pry, but how large an area, and how deep is the mud?

I mean, one very temporary solution would be several long sturdy 2x4s and some plywood with some bedding over that. But it would be a giant bandaid.

 

[creaturelife]

well i live in hart co ky we are having a wind advisory and it 75 F and when have a tornado warning then after today it back down to the 30s and 40s
the mud is about 2 inches deep and my run 12 or 8 by 14 i looked at it again i know for sure it around 8 by 14

 

[Amiga]

Mine is 10 by 16 with an attached 30 sf covered veranda.

I think sawdust would help you out quite a bit for starters. Then a swale to a lower area.

You know, oat straw is really nice. Can you get ahold of some oats and a little sunny space to grow them in? You can cut them and toss them in the pen, the ducks eat the oats and the straw stays for bedding. This is a longer term thing, but I reckon why not think long term as well as short term?

 

[creaturelife]

amiga i like think long term i m going to look into how that stuff grows this is my first year in the hole poultry thing i moved from the city so i was pretty much a city slicker show how much i know when i have to ask what to put in a duck run lol

 

[Amiga]

creaturelife, the learning curve is steep and long. PM me if you want to chat about oats, and other things that are fun to plant for ducks.

I must step away from the computer for a little bit, but will check in again.