Duck housing

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Welshies

Welshies

Crowing
May 8, 2016
3,250
2,535
286
Alberta, Canada
So my ducks are in a 4-season tractor now, but the run area is the same size as the coop area. I want to arrange something else for them. I have 2 options.
Option 1:
Keep them in the duck tractor, moving them weekly, and letting them free range when I am outside / with them.

Option 2: Move the duck tractor inside an unused horse shed (three sided shelter) and fence an area for them to be during the day (the run) and keep them in the tractor at night. (The fence will be about 3-feet high, maybe more, not buried, mostly to contain them and keep nervous nocturnal predators deterred during the day) When I am there, they will be able to free range.

For both options, I will herd them to a huge dug-out at the very least, weekly, during the day. The ground will have anthills, bugs, grass, clover, dandelions.

Which option is better? What experiences has everyone had with unsupervised free ranging? So happy yet so worried, my ducks are growing up...
fl.gif
 
I like option #1, although option #2 has good points. I would never let them free range alone..I am way to worried about something killing them. I have a 120 foot Poultry fence that can be electric, although I never plug it in. I got it a Peavey Mart for $170..Works great for free ranging. I use it now for the Chickens but was great for the Ducks.
You will have to try out both and see what works best for your set up.
 
chickens really said:
I like option #1, although option #2 has good points. I would never let them free range alone..I am way to worried about something killing them. I have a 120 foot Poultry fence that can be electric, although I never plug it in. I got it a Peavey Mart for $170..Works great for free ranging. I use it now for the Chickens but was great for the Ducks.
You will have to try out both and see what works best for your set up.
Click to expand...

I did decide to move them to the unused horse shed. They have 100sqft/duck right now, space for up to 24 ducks (with another coop). They are so much happier, and really like the shed (I try to chase them to an anthill when I'm around, and they waddle right back to the shed.) The only con is the distance, but it will make me excersize more I suppose!
 
I agree with your decision, option 2 seemed to be the best. Gives them more space when you're not around, but they can still get out and free range when you are around. Do they have a pool?
 

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