- Feb 17, 2010
- 2
- 0
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Hey Guys,
New to the forums here, to make a long story short someone teased my son with a toy duck, so I went out and bought him four real ducks. As my wife say's, She is glad they did not tease him with a stuffed horse,lol. I have a long history with birds, having raised parakeets and cockatiels for oh, 20 years. I have always wanted some ducks and chickens but just never got around to it, thanks to life at the office, etc etc.
So I tend to over do most things, and have a coop/run idea in my head that involves using a lean to shelter and enclosing a 10 foot portion of that for the actually coop. it already has a roof, and one wall which seems to make the most logical sense, just close in the 3 sides and we have a coop. Electricity is already in place, a raised dirt floor that stays more dry than the rest of my yard, all of which makes it seem to be more suitable.
I want to come off the back of the coop with a run that is probably 30-40 feet long, by 20 feet wide, using the shelter/coop and attached shop as one side. Again all of this seems logical considering it would save me on labor and materials. I could basically build bigger for the money. The only problem I am having with this is my desire to keep some ornamental ducks and a few bantam chickens like silkies or something another (not decided on the chickens) and I would want to protect them from the avian dive bombers known as hawks. I also want to keep my collection of ducks and chickens in my yard. I live out in the "country" but there are other houses around, most of which are family members (we have 5 of the 8 homes on the street) but still, I don't want them wandering all over the neighborhood, it would make it impossible to protect them and enjoy them without sitting in someone else's yard.
So Roofing materials seem to be numerous, I have all but settled on Netting for the roof due to cost and protection of the aquatic aviators should they take flight and hit the roofing. My only problem is how do you make support system to hold the netting up 8 feet or so, without having a post every 10-12 feet in the run? Surely someone has a larger run with a net roof on, I don't think it would be practical or enjoyable to have a run filled with post to hold up the roof? I am about all out of ideas, maybe I am making this more complicated than it needs to be? Any idea's, suggestions, or thoughts would be much appreciated! Should I just down size to a 10x10 run and learn to like it?
Also thanks for the help so far, the site and message boards have been great at answering questions before they even arise.
The ducks I ordered were Cayuga and Rouens if that makes a difference, but would really like to get a few wood ducks in the mix as well.
Chris
New to the forums here, to make a long story short someone teased my son with a toy duck, so I went out and bought him four real ducks. As my wife say's, She is glad they did not tease him with a stuffed horse,lol. I have a long history with birds, having raised parakeets and cockatiels for oh, 20 years. I have always wanted some ducks and chickens but just never got around to it, thanks to life at the office, etc etc.
So I tend to over do most things, and have a coop/run idea in my head that involves using a lean to shelter and enclosing a 10 foot portion of that for the actually coop. it already has a roof, and one wall which seems to make the most logical sense, just close in the 3 sides and we have a coop. Electricity is already in place, a raised dirt floor that stays more dry than the rest of my yard, all of which makes it seem to be more suitable.
I want to come off the back of the coop with a run that is probably 30-40 feet long, by 20 feet wide, using the shelter/coop and attached shop as one side. Again all of this seems logical considering it would save me on labor and materials. I could basically build bigger for the money. The only problem I am having with this is my desire to keep some ornamental ducks and a few bantam chickens like silkies or something another (not decided on the chickens) and I would want to protect them from the avian dive bombers known as hawks. I also want to keep my collection of ducks and chickens in my yard. I live out in the "country" but there are other houses around, most of which are family members (we have 5 of the 8 homes on the street) but still, I don't want them wandering all over the neighborhood, it would make it impossible to protect them and enjoy them without sitting in someone else's yard.
So Roofing materials seem to be numerous, I have all but settled on Netting for the roof due to cost and protection of the aquatic aviators should they take flight and hit the roofing. My only problem is how do you make support system to hold the netting up 8 feet or so, without having a post every 10-12 feet in the run? Surely someone has a larger run with a net roof on, I don't think it would be practical or enjoyable to have a run filled with post to hold up the roof? I am about all out of ideas, maybe I am making this more complicated than it needs to be? Any idea's, suggestions, or thoughts would be much appreciated! Should I just down size to a 10x10 run and learn to like it?
Also thanks for the help so far, the site and message boards have been great at answering questions before they even arise.
The ducks I ordered were Cayuga and Rouens if that makes a difference, but would really like to get a few wood ducks in the mix as well.
Chris
