Appropriate run space for three ducks?

[Joce417]

As a rule of thumb 4sq ft per duck sleeping and 12 sq ft per duck minimum for the run. I have a generous size coop, fortunately, and free range in my back garden by day. My coop needs to be bigger than the minimum as I too rescue ducks and at different times I have had three dogcrates in there to separate drakes in the see-no touch stage of introductions, and to separate squabbling boys. I currently have only 1 muscovy drake in a crate as my pekins are frightened of him and will not go in the coop if he is loose. Then my other muscovy drake is roosting on top of the dog crate (on a tray with pine shavings) as he is in the middle of a big molt, feeling out of sorts, and being picked on by the meanie pekins [which only a month ago were his big buddies]. I don't have females as I have always been able to rehome females. Drakes are far more difficult to rehome

And thank you for all this info. It’s really really helpful.

 

[Joce417]

@Joce417 I agee on the Easter ducklings. I wish that Tractor Supply and feed stores didn't sell ducklings or chicks. If folks had to buy from a hatchery or breeder and didn't see cute little fluffies in stores, there would be far fewer ducks and particularly drakes dumped when they become adolescents.

I agree with you. If you think about it, when you go to a pet store (or especially like a humane society adoption shelter) they do at least some amount of vetting on who can adopt. Like if the dog or cat isn’t good with kids and you have kids, that’s usually a no go. Or if the animal needs to be the only cat or dog in the home. I know when we adopted a cat from a shelter years ago they at least wanted proof we owned our home or if we rented, that we were allowed to have pets there. I feel like the same should apply for the birds, especially waterfowl. It seems like an impulse purchase for a lot of ppl but I can’t understand the mentality. They have to know before they walk up to the cash register at Tractor Supply that ducklings don’t stay small forever. I just don’t think it’s right that they make it so easy for just anyone to walk out the door with ducklings, no questions asked.

 

[Luv Ducks]

I agree with you. If you think about it, when you go to a pet store (or especially like a humane society adoption shelter) they do at least some amount of vetting on who can adopt. Like if the dog or cat isn’t good with kids and you have kids, that’s usually a no go. Or if the animal needs to be the only cat or dog in the home. I know when we adopted a cat from a shelter years ago they at least wanted proof we owned our home or if we rented, that we were allowed to have pets there. I feel like the same should apply for the birds, especially waterfowl. It seems like an impulse purchase for a lot of ppl but I can’t understand the mentality. They have to know before they walk up to the cash register at Tractor Supply that ducklings don’t stay small forever. I just don’t think it’s right that they make it so easy for just anyone to walk out the door with ducklings, no questions asked.

I wonder if there are no questions asked because they might consider them part of the food chain. We eat their eggs and some people even raise chicks and ducklings for food. A cat or dog is considered a pet for sure but when I was trying to find a vet for my ducks I was told they were an exotic animal, not a pet. I have bought two ducklings from our Rural King and ended up with a Drake and Hen and had to rehome the Drake. Even online orders though can end up with Drakes that were supposed to be hens so I am not sure what they answer is. Dumping them is a horrible way to get rid of them however and I do not endorse that at all. Mine might have landed on a dinner table when I rehomed it, I will never know but it didn't end up in a lake to suffer because it was trying to survive. It's wonderful that there are caring people that can try to help them. Kudos to all of them.