My coop has "deep litter" and I do not remove their droppings at all. I just and toss fresh wood shavings and sprinkle with DE occasionally. I'll empty the litter and start over once or twice a year. My coop isn't smelly, even on the hottest days (it actually smells like aspen shavings). My Girls kind of mix it up when they scratch around in there, and the wood shavings seem to absorb the moisture from the droppings. It's my understanding that the decomposing litter will actually help to keep the coop warmer in the Winter. Sounds to me like you're working harder than you need too. I don't have ducks, so I can't say how that might make a difference.

Decomposing litter may keep it warm, but it attracts mites and other insects that can jeopardize the health of your birds.

Thats what the DE (diathomaseous earth) is for. So far, no bugs of any kind...

hmm,,I don't put DE casue it's dangerous I was told to breathe in when you're pregnant..so I sprinkle someorganic nice smelling powdery stuff to keep things dry and odor free.
so far so good..thanks for your replies.

The keys are shavings and doggie pooper scoopers! I have a scooper for each area chicken coop, goose house, back yard for the 5 dogs.

I use shaving for all the animals (goats, horse, geese, chickens). It is much easier to clean than hay, the dropping can be easily seen and scooped. It's cheaper and covers a larger space, it acts like a sponge and absorbs all liquid then you scoop. I work full time and to keep the flies under control I have to scoop before work everyday, sooo easy and stays clean smelling.

Of course the geese and chickens have nests of hay which I clean out once a week also.

When the chickens and geese (housed separately) poop or wet I scoop it up with one of those doggie pooper scoopers, drop it into a trash barrel with cover. About once every two weeks I take the barrels and dump it into the compost pile. In the winter I put trash bags into the barrels and put out for the trash. I am unable to get to the compost pile due to snow.

When I change the nests (hay) I sprinkle underneath very lightly with sevendust for mites, I also add a little to their dusting area.