"A" frame coop for ducks

[CahoonCustomCutting]

I am finally getting into raising ducks and I am wondering ifa 6'x8' a frame coop with windows on either end will be good enough for a dozen to a dozen and a half ducks. I already know that I have to make sure that it is insulated. As winters here can get down to the mid minus forties. But how much ventilation do I need. And would a fan blowing out help or would it be overkill.

The plan I have drafted leave me with a fairly waterproof shelter but one that is far from airtight. Is there any suggestions on how best to keep my future ducks happy and healthy.

 

[DuckyDonna]

I don't think that coop would be big enough for that many ducks. One of my coops is 4 x 8 ( a full sheet of plywood). I have 7 ducks in it now and I think that is too many. We are building another soon. I put a little partial partition in both coops that they can get behind, snuggle and feel safe. They really like that a lot and it's super simple to do. I put their food buckets on the top of the partition at night.

I put cardboard up in the wintertime to make it a bit warmer. That's what you see on the left in the picture. I've already taken it off as our temps are now warming up quite a bit.

Please don't make the same mistake that we did with our first pen. It was originally supposed to be a rabbit hutch so it was short. I can't tell you what a pain it is to have to get in there to clean it without hitting my head! Build so you can stand up in it. Also, put some kind of light in it so you can see what you are doing when it is time to clean it. The pen on the left is the head banger!

 

[aart]

But how much ventilation do I need.

A lot, and it needs to be protected from wind/rain/snow...hard to do with an Aframe.

 

[chickens really]

What breed of Duck? During winter that will probably be tight with that many birds. How many Drakes do you plan to keep? Are you breeding for meat or eggs? Will they have access to a secure run or free range?

 

[Isaac 0]

I am finally getting into raising ducks and I am wondering ifa 6'x8' a frame coop with windows on either end will be good enough for a dozen to a dozen and a half ducks. I already know that I have to make sure that it is insulated. As winters here can get down to the mid minus forties. But how much ventilation do I need. And would a fan blowing out help or would it be overkill.

The plan I have drafted leave me with a fairly waterproof shelter but one that is far from airtight. Is there any suggestions on how best to keep my future ducks happy and healthy.

x2 on what @DuckyDonna said. Go bigger, After a few months of keeping ducks you will probably have 2x more than you planned on. Duck math kicks in fast.

 

[CahoonCustomCutting]

I plan on having only ducks as I plan to keep for eggs. Any drakes I get will meat my knife once they are a good eating size. But as for breeds I will be ordering a straight run of 10 silver appleyard day olds and possibly later in the year a straight run of 10 chocolate Indian Runner day olds. Depending on how things go I may keep one drake out of our runner run if we want a few ducklings. To make a bit of money in the spring. But how big should I build my coop

 

[chickens really]

I plan on having only ducks as I plan to keep for eggs. Any drakes I get will meat my knife once they are a good eating size. But as for breeds I will be ordering a straight run of 10 silver appleyard day olds and possibly later in the year a straight run of 10 chocolate Indian Runner day olds. Depending on how things go I may keep one drake out of our runner run if we want a few ducklings. To make a bit of money in the spring. But how big should I build my coop

Realistically you don't need that many to start with.
If you want meat and layers a totally different pen is needed to accomplish and accomidate their needs.
The first year your raising them to pick out breeders and you won't see much profit.

 

[CahoonCustomCutting]

I don't really care about profit I'm mainly just after eggs because I prefer them to chicken eggs. If I can get a couple bucks for a few ducklings or eggs I'd be happy. What size of coop do I need for my layers assuming that I have 8 laying ducks over the winter. And my meat birds will probably be kept in a movable tractor while I fatten then up.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Do you have Storeys guide to raising ducks? It’s got a whole lot of valuable info in it and gives it from one of the best Dave Holddread.

 

[chickens really]

I don't really care about profit I'm mainly just after eggs because I prefer them to chicken eggs. If I can get a couple bucks for a few ducklings or eggs I'd be happy. What size of coop do I need for my layers assuming that I have 8 laying ducks over the winter. And my meat birds will probably be kept in a movable tractor while I fatten then up.

Layer Ducks you only need about 5 and meat Ducks are a different story? Depends on who your feeding?