pea gravel for ducks?

[smonkeySK]

That's great. Yeah the pea gravel I got is also quite coarse. But it seems to vary depending on which landscaping supply company is selling it.
What kind of duck is that one sitting on the chair? It's such a beautiful color.

Yeah it definitely depends on your location as to what is available locally. I had to order from a specialist site to find what I wanted.
Just annoys me that these places advertise pea gravel; when what they mean is just gravel!

The little girl relaxing on the sunbed is a manky mallard (mallard mother x pied blue call father). This is her and her sister -

 

[farmeristas]

Hi farmaristas, I would recommend using deep litter. You can look into here on the forum. In my opinion, it would be a better option because you don't have to hose anything down (all that water on a regular basis sounds like it could cause problems in an enclosed coop) and you don't have to worry about harming the ducks' feet. I use pine shavings on top of the dirt ground and it works very well. I just keep adding more pine shavings when things start smelling not so fresh or when the old shavings are looking a little worn down. I also fluff up the compacted shavings almost daily with a hoe (because I have to find where the eggs have been buried anyways). Ideally you only have to completely remove and replace the litter once or twice a year.

I think i will go with sand or very thick pea gravel with drainage system under it, but morelikely sand sounds easier just sweep the top with a net and only the poops going so i believe a thick layer will stay like ayear or something!!!

 

[jdaly91215]

I want to use pea gravel for the ducks. What to do about hosing it down in the winter though? Won't it just turn into a sheet of ice?

 

[farmeristas]

I want to use pea gravel for the ducks. What to do about hosing it down in the winter though? Won't it just turn into a sheet of ice?

well maybe some thin ice yes but if you do a layer more than 4 inch it will drain instantly and water wont stay there to make an ice crust but again you need a fat enough layer of PG.

 

[jdaly91215]

Thank you! That's good to know. I'm planning on lining the entire bottom of the 10x12 pen with 1/4 hardware cloth, then doing half pea gravel (the half with their pool) and half straw/shavings. Guess I'll need a lot of gravel! I think it's great though, easy to keep clean imo

 

[LizaKnepper]

can i put pea gravel or something down where my ducks hang out? its a muddy mess and really groos. would the ducks eat the gravel? what to do... what to do. lol.

I'm getting ready to redo my duck pen and I am contemplating on what pea gravel to use I am not quite sure could you please help me with this me. The pea gravel is it the gray pea gravel or is it the decorative pea gravel that you are using

 

[21hens-incharge]

I'm getting ready to redo my duck pen and I am contemplating on what pea gravel to use I am not quite sure could you please help me with this me. The pea gravel is it the gray pea gravel or is it the decorative pea gravel that you are using

Duckgirl89 hasn't logged on in 5 years sadly.

Might be best to start a new thread in the duck section.

 

[zoltran73]

the only thing bad about gravel is your ducks will probably eventually get bumblefoot, but as long as you check it regularly and take care of it right away, it's no biggy. Or you can get them shoes then you don't have to worry about it at all.