A work in progress

[milkandpeaches]

We're getting our ducklings on Monday or Tuesday. We have a brooder set up, but we haven't got our coop together yet.
We took over my partner's families old property. I'm thankful but it's also been a little bit of a pain because there were so many people living here before us and they were all hoarders. This ment a lot of clean up, but it also ment a lot of potential.
I started cleaning out an old shed filled with forgotten junk. Were turning this into our coop. Theres already lots of good chicken wire attached that were just going to reinforce and I'm going to make it the cutest darn little shack.
There's a large area in the front of it that's going to turn into our run [I'll post all of the dimensions in my next post] Theres plenty of space to build a filtered pond for the ducks and were putting lots of bird friendly plants/fruit trees on the outer perimeter, maybe even the interior. I'd like to know if you all put plants INSIDE your runs or if you just keep them on the outside?
Here's a sneak peek of the before. I already started pulling stuff put before I thought of taking them, but I'll keep you all posted!

 

[milkandpeaches]

All right I just measured the dimensions. The coop itself will be 63sq ft and the run will be 434sq ft

 

[Mtnboomer]

I do. Depending upon the number of birds you have in the run will determine the success of plant life. The consensus is 10sf per bird for a stsndard run. If you have a permanent run, that number will need to be increased dramatically to maintain a ground cover. I am experimenting now to determine what the number may be. Its looking like as much as 120sf+ per bird for grasses and clover to survive, but that is not confirmed. I think it could be reduced by other environmental enrichment.
I also have shrubs that produce edible berries and provides shade. These do better if planted in a semi-raised bed (4x4 boarder).
The key to keeping any vegetation inside the run is to not over stress it by having too many birds on it and letting it be well established before the birds are granted access.
The ground covers will be the most difficult to sustain.

 

[Folly's place]

Welcome!
You do have a basic structure, although it's hard to see, with all the stuff still around it!
Having the space and a roof is terrific, but beyond that it's about predator proofing, and managing for your weather (where?).
Chicken wire is best thrown out along with the other stuff, only hardware cloth and heavier wire types will be safe for them. Also protection from tunneling critters.
If you will also be having chickens, have them housed separately from your duckies!
Pictures of your new ducklings! What kinds?
Mary

 

[Mtnboomer]

Why house

Welcome!
You do have a basic structure, although it's hard to see, with all the stuff still around it!
Having the space and a roof is terrific, but beyond that it's about predator proofing, and managing for your weather (where?).
Chicken wire is best thrown out along with the other stuff, only hardware cloth and heavier wire types will be safe for them. Also protection from tunneling critters.
If you will also be having chickens, have them housed separately from your duckies!
Pictures of your new ducklings! What kinds?
Mary

The ducks separate from the chickens? When we had ducks, they shared their pen with my 2-4month old chickens and slept in the same coop. I know its dangerous with open pools/ponds of water (although we never had an issue) but are there other concerns?

 

[Folly's place]

Chickens don't do well in wet conditions, and ducks make a wet mess of everything. I know it can be done, but it's generally easier on everyone to manage them separately, if possible.
Mary

 

[Mtnboomer]

Chickens don't do well in wet conditions, and ducks make a wet mess of everything. I know it can be done, but it's generally easier on everyone to manage them separately, if possible.
Mary

Ok. They certainly did make the bedding wet! Chickens roosted above so i guess they stayed out of the mess a bit and since they were not of egg laying age, there were no nesting boxes. The ducks layed there eggs in a corner of the coop.

 

[Fluffyflufffluff]

We're getting our ducklings on Monday or Tuesday. We have a brooder set up, but we haven't got our coop together yet.
We took over my partner's families old property. I'm thankful but it's also been a little bit of a pain because there were so many people living here before us and they were all hoarders. This ment a lot of clean up, but it also ment a lot of potential.
I started cleaning out an old shed filled with forgotten junk. Were turning this into our coop. Theres already lots of good chicken wire attached that were just going to reinforce and I'm going to make it the cutest darn little shack.
There's a large area in the front of it that's going to turn into our run [I'll post all of the dimensions in my next post] Theres plenty of space to build a filtered pond for the ducks and were putting lots of bird friendly plants/fruit trees on the outer perimeter, maybe even the interior. I'd like to know if you all put plants INSIDE your runs or if you just keep them on the outside?
Here's a sneak peek of the before. I already started pulling stuff put before I thought of taking them, but I'll keep you all posted!

We're getting our ducklings on Monday or Tuesday. We have a brooder set up, but we haven't got our coop together yet.
We took over my partner's families old property. I'm thankful but it's also been a little bit of a pain because there were so many people living here before us and they were all hoarders. This ment a lot of clean up, but it also ment a lot of potential.
I started cleaning out an old shed filled with forgotten junk. Were turning this into our coop. Theres already lots of good chicken wire attached that were just going to reinforce and I'm going to make it the cutest darn little shack.
There's a large area in the front of it that's going to turn into our run [I'll post all of the dimensions in my next post] Theres plenty of space to build a filtered pond for the ducks and were putting lots of bird friendly plants/fruit trees on the outer perimeter, maybe even the interior. I'd like to know if you all put plants INSIDE your runs or if you just keep them on the outside?
Here's a sneak peek of the before. I already started pulling stuff put before I thought of taking them, but I'll keep you all posted!

The space is lovely. I hope you can finish that as soon as possible. That will be very beneficial. Hope to hear from you soon.

 

[milkandpeaches]

Welcome!
You do have a basic structure, although it's hard to see, with all the stuff still around it!
Having the space and a roof is terrific, but beyond that it's about predator proofing, and managing for your weather (where?).
Chicken wire is best thrown out along with the other stuff, only hardware cloth and heavier wire types will be safe for them. Also protection from tunneling critters.
If you will also be having chickens, have them housed separately from your duckies!
Pictures of your new ducklings! What kinds?
Mary

Sorry for the long post in advance!

I know there is a lot of stuff! I'm 21 weeks pregnant and moving all of that exhausted me. LOL

Chicken-wire is all we currently have, but Im not too worried about predators getting through it. The wire is 5+ feet off the ground on the upper half of the shed. I would love to use something stronger and I'll probably replace it in the future, but the main goal is to make a secure coop using the materials we either have on the property or found for free to cheap locally. Im not working. I work a seasonal job going to wildfire and national disasters feeding the firemen and in this last off season I was in South Carolina for military training. Long story short I fractured and broke 5 bones in my lower body (still finished all of my training though!) and when I came home it was fire season again. My contract ended in November and my pregnancy started in October. I decided to stay home and work on my realtors license so I can work from home with the baby and my boyfriend is currently supporting the both of us and the house.

When we build the run we will use a different material, but coyotes and hawks are our biggest concern. I read about people using fruit tree netting as run covers to keep the hawks away and I was wondering if that was enough?

The coyotes stay at bay for the most part already. We have 6 dogs on the property that drive everything away, even unfortunately, our neighbors ridiculously fat goats.

Looking onto the front you'll see a pretty steep hill to the left, another shed back to back with it, and on the right theres a lot of forestry. We're going to grow fruit trees to add extra shelter and goodies (for us and the chickens(; ) but there is a lot of wind coverage. For extra precaution we're putting up sliding wood panels that cover the chicken wire top. Easily adjustable for summer, winter, snow, intrusions, and rain. We're remaking the door to be mostly wood. When the run is built there will be an opening for the birds to run in and out without the draft coming in.

I live in Oregon. It gets chilly, but we're buying cold hardy breeds that should be able to withstand our winters. The ducks we are picking up this week are Ancona ducks and later in the season we will be purchasing French Marans.

I will be housing my ducks and chickens together. The pond will be on the other side on the run so hopefully that with a combination of other ideas I have will help with the water mess. I will post updates soon, let me know what you think of the ideas above! They will be brooded separately though!

 

[milkandpeaches]

The coop is now completely cleared out, the sheet metal removed, and the ground raked.

Things of use I found to use on the property and craigslist:
-Lots and lots of wood. We always have an ample supply.
-Lots of sheet rock
-Framed plain wood board
-Sheet Metal
-Old tires
-5 foot by 5 foot shelving (craigslist free!)
-THICK 6 foot branches (craigslist free!)
-Wooden rocking chair
-Metal mesh wiring (craigslist free!)

Our next steps:
-Sand and install wood panels for flooring and back wall
-Sand and weatherproof the side walls, floor, and rocking chair
-Sand, paint, and weather proof back wall boards, red beams, and outer coop
-Measure out and make a new door
-Make and install slide-able chicken wire covers
-Attach sheet metal to the back of the shelving before screwing it into the wall and floors
-Attach wood lips to front of shelving/nest boxes
-Make a little sheet metal roof on the shelving
-Clean the tires thoroughly and place them in a pyramid in the corner for duck nesting
-Install thick branches as roosting poles
-Make cute sign out of framed wood

I know of these sound kind of silly as it has no real purpose other than to look cute, but we've got so much clutter that I figured why not make it functional and aesthetic with the things I find. Im a big fan of design and flipping furniture/living spaces.

The ducks will be here on Monday/Tuesday. Hopefully we can finish the floors, sanding, painting, weather proofing by Sunday. By Wednesday the shelves will be installed, the tires put into place, the slide wire cover installed, and a new door crafted/installed. Wednesday until the chicks transfer should have enough buffer time for any reinforcements needed.

The photo below isnt mine just one of the duck nests online I found. I cant give credit to original poster. I found this on pinterest and it redirects me immediately to the image.

Once the coop itself is done we're going to begin on the run.