Mulch For Duck Run?

[Vyctoria]

I've been trying to grow grass in the outside run since this spring and it was going surprisingly well until we hit a drought. I don't have the time or energy to water it twice a day because getting the hose out that far is a time-consuming, pain in the butt. At this point, I have patches that are established, but short. The whole middle of the pen just won't seem to take off though. The ducks leave it alone just fine. The only reason I don't have grass in the first place is because the pen started out smaller and we had some wet seasons that turned it into mud. I've since built it up so the water doesn't pool in the middle and we're putting up gutters on the coop within the week, so I don't think that'll be an issue again.

Right now I'm having a really hard time deciding if it's worth keeping at it or just covering the pen in one material instead. I'm considering a natural hardwood mulch. Has anyone here ever done mulch? I'm talking about the kind meant for gardens and not pine shavings. What are your thought on it? I don't like sand or stones, so I'm not going that route.

 

[CayugaJana]

If I don’t free range my ducks during the day, there is no way for me to keep grass in their pen. They are way too messy. Ugh.

I wouldn’t put the type of mulch we have around here out for my ducks. I’ve walked in my backyard several times this week without shoes and got splinters 3 times in my foot. I have put pine shavings and straw down for mine though. Our pine shavings are a lot softer than mulch.

 

[cheezenkwackers]

I have triple ground hardwood with mine, works fine.

 

[CayugaJana]

I have triple ground hardwood with mine, works fine.

That’s interesting! Do you make it yourself or can you buy it?

 

[CrystaBub]

I use mulch but I've found all mulch is not created equally... I found un-dyed hardwood mulch at WM and Lowes and it's shredded. Not sure if that makes a difference. No splinters for me or the ducks - yet

 

[Vyctoria]

I work at Countrymax, so that was where I'm planning to get it, but if some other store has it ground finer then I'll go there instead. Ours is pretty chunky. I'll have to check Lowes.

 

[CrystaBub]

I work at Countrymax, so that was where I'm planning to get it, but if some other store has it ground finer then I'll go there instead. Ours is pretty chunky. I'll have to check Lowes.

The shredded is working for us so far. I rake it daily which tends to break it down more I think. It's great to also replace it regularly and use the old stuff around your yard. I have some plants that are doing better than ever before and I swear it's the duck poop fertilizer!

 

[cheezenkwackers]

That’s interesting! Do you make it yourself or can you buy it?

We buy it from a place called “Nature’s Earth” by the dump truck load. We buy it for the flower beds but put it in the duck pen/garden too. It does keep the mud down.