danger danger: rough surfaces around duck pond/pools

[jmc]

seems that a rough surface aroiund duck pools can rough up the feet and leave an opportunity for staph/bumble foot. don't want that. so what do you use around your kiddie pools/ducks pond--and how do they get into and out of the pools. seems sand, stone, cinder blocks, concrete blocks, large stones all are hazardous for a duck's foot. so whattya use, silken pillows!!?

 

[katharinad]

I use cinder and concrete blocks without an issue at all. Its usually not the surface but the fresh concrete that causes issues. The block needs to me cured and cleaned out. Best is to soak it in water and rinse, and repeat several times. That takes the acidity out of the concrete. There is also a rubbing tool you can get in the hardware store to knock off the sharp edges. You can also use preasure treated lumber, or composite decking. Really I would not sweat it to much. I keep the steps at 3-4" height so my duckies can walk up and down with ease, reducing the risk of injury.

 

[Nessy]

We use old rubber mats to cover our ducks ramps to get to their pools then it wont matter what you use beneath be it wood or bricks. We bought one mat from walmart it was a cheap flexible thing. The others I got from my moms office when they got old and were about to be thrown away. They are those heavier mats with the little rubber things sticking up for you to clean your shoes on.

Back when I had domestic ducks and we had issues with bumble foot sometimes we would put an old towel down in the high traffic area where the ducks would always be running down the concrete pathway.

 

[toadbriar]

I just bought a cheapo indoor/outdoor welcome mat for in front of my duckpen door, cos I kept tripping over the edge of the flat digproof poultry wire on the ground

Anyhow it was all of $4 - cheaper ones at Job Lots I bet - and they can be hosed off if they get too gross.

(JMC I am so behind on email, but I haven't forgotten you!)

 

[katharinad]

I have rubber runner mats down in the duck house, which has concrete pavers in it so we can get to the inground sprinkler pipes if there is an issue. The rubber runners are easy to keep clean, better then trying to clean the pavers for sure. The rubber runners are available at Home Depot in the carpet isle. They are very inexpensive and cover a larger area. I have 3 in the duck house covering an area of 8x8 feet.

 

[toletiquesbysam]

I guess I'm the only one who uses dirt, I have nothing special around the pool, just the dirt run!

 

[jmc]

thanks, you wouldn't believe the stuff i've got on the ground to keep bumblefoot out or down. i just pulled out a whole bunch of sand that i loaded in there last year

which i think was a big factor in the matter. actually, i just finished getting rid of ALL sand in the duck area. filled our backhoe bucket about 10 times. then i go and put the soil back in--which i took out last year

now i got tarps on the ground, soft floating row cover material...................................i figure prevention of bumble foot is better than risking it (already had issues and still do), cuz a vet is no way for me.
thanks again

 

[JosieR]

I'm worried about it too! I let them free range on grass all day but their night house has an attached run with composite decking. I cleaned it off but it was still a little rough so I actually added shavings (and I'm so annoyed, I got this so I could just hose off!) but I'm trying to work up the nerve to just let them on it.

I also have smooth river stone that I planned on putting at the bottom of their ramp but I'm even worried about that! Glad it's not just me

 

[toadbriar]

Do I recall a lot of people use pea gravel in their runs? Wonder if it can be periodically soaked with some sort of disinfectant?

 

[jmc]

each situation is different, really. some suggest stream pea gravel, yet others have had birds end up with sores on their feet from it (plus expensive as heck) sand is used by some and suggested by some, but it clearly hasn't worked too too well here. when it gets rained on, larger mini stones come up and you get something harder and even coarser than you started with. the sand inside the shelter is still soft, fine and dry. but they don't live on that, but in a huge cage with wood shavings. i do believe that--attention toletiques....--that plain dirt, even packed dirt would be better than sand. and man o man, you should feel that sand when it is frozen. might as well just grab your ducks and run a rasp over their foot pads (i can only put so much hay down in winter) and when the ducks go running around on it like a bunch of kids as they jump out of their pool, that is a prime way to get their delicate feet scratched, ever so slightly is all it takes for staph. ducks just ain't land birds--at least mallard domestics aren't (which is what all domestics are, except scovies). their feet aren't built for a life on harsh surfaces. as someone put it, sand isn't much different from ground glass. true, and you should see how sharp those grains are. now some will say--as an avian vet SUGGESTED TO ME--that childrens' play sand is the thing to use. yet, 'shonuff' others reject it saying 'you should see how jagged those particles are!' maybe sometime i'll post pics of what i've got going here