Pea gravel a slimy mess

[Majorbleepbleep]

As the title says, the pea gravel is not working. It's not working. Im so tired. The flies are now in charge. I am almost hating going out to the coop each day.

12x12 run. Half mulch. Half pea gravel. The pea gravel was added to help keep the ducks from exuberantly turning the entire run into a puddle when they are confined. The ducks (3) are, well, messy, obviously, and continue, as ducks do, to bathe in the water dish. The pea gravel though, dear gosh. The ducks, every single day, poop enough to completely coat the gravel, which disallows the water to flow through the gravel and dissipate. Hosing it down just sprays poop EVERYWHERE. It's like poop- frosting, you guys, and it's awful. And the ducks aren't even in the run all day long! My chickens are stupid or something too because they LOVE walking in it and then jumping on me.

I have been slowly removing the gravel from the pen over the past few weeks. So much poop-frosting. I feel so defeated. Duck poop gravel weighs so much more than non duck poop gravel.

 

[Earthdale]

I'm sorry Ducks can be a pain.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Once most of the gravel is removed (and provided there isn't existing drainage issues in the area, which no type of litter will compensate for) consider going deep litter with the mulch as the base.

 

[Brooks_]

I agree with Rosemary.

Deep litter will probably be the only thing to work with ducks. They are wet and messy -requiring good drainage and carbon.

 

[Acre4Me]

Yuck! I can understand!

We don't have ducks, but I have been around them enough to know you speak truth.

Good idea removing the gravel, and @rosemarythyme is correct that deep litter will likely be helpful. An inexpensive source can be a tree guy that grinds up trees or some people closer to bigger cities can use "Chip Drop" - get wood chips free (website is "Chip Drop" I think). Or buy several bags of mulch or pine bark nuggets. Do not get dyed mulch, whatever you do - can be bad for the birds is what I understand. Also, avoid the aromatic type of wood (cedar) as it can be hard on the lungs of birds.

It is my understanding that ducks do not need a pool. They do not need to swim. But that they need deep enough water bowl to dip their bill and clean their nostrils. But ducks are what they are - and will try to swim and make a big mess with whatever water is around. Maybe you can elevate the water source in the pen, and change it up enough that they cannot make such a mess. A plant pot metal ring holder comes to mind. like this. Anchor it to something at a level good for the ducks and they can dip and splash, but maybe the mess is smaller. Then when they are not in the run, they could access a pool of water where the mess is less impactful.

Good Luck to you! Hope you can get back to enjoying your birds again.

 

[ruthhope]

We don't have ducks, but I have been around them enough to know you speak truth.

It is my understanding that ducks do not need a pool. They do not need to swim. But that they need deep enough water bowl to dip their bill and clean their nostrils. But ducks are what they are - and will try to swim and make a big mess with whatever water is around.

Ducks need water to sit in and cool off in very hot weather. If not a pool, they need a sprinkler.

I have one rescued drake that became waterlogged and nearly drowned at 2 or 3 days old and was rescued by a passerby. He will not go into water at all. But when it is hot, I shower him with the hose to both cool him down and clean him up, the stinker.