Are they ready to move?

[sunnie7]

I got 3 Pekin ducks from TSC March 15th. I’m guess they are 5-6 weeks old. I’m beyond ready to move these huge things out of my garage! Our coop is still a working process we are going to cut pop door today and build a ramp and also put metal up around the bottom of the run. We have a ton laying around and we’re going to use that for now until we get hardware cloth to do the apron. We are hoping the run is temporary I ideally want them to eventually free range with my great pyrneese and goats.

Are they feathered enough to be outside here in southern Indiana? Are temps are low 60s/40s

How do I train them to go into the coop at night?

Any suggestions on how to easily make a covering for their pool?

How wide of a ramp do the need? I’m paling on cutting a 10X12 door for the coop.

 

[floppysquirrel04]

Can you send pictures? At that age they’re probably fine as long as their coop can keep the wind out. For training, look up Gold Shaw Farm on YT, he has a great way to get them to all “go to bed”. What do you mean by covering? Probably 1.5-2 feet wide for pekins.

 

[DuckyDonna]

Maybe you could post a picture of them but as long as they are feathered they might be good but you're a lot farther north than I am and I'm not sure I'd want them out yet but I just have skinny runners and not big ole' pekins.

Ok on the 10 x 12 door is that feet?

Not sure why you'd want to cover their pool.

 

[sunnie7]

I forgot to add my pictures sorry!!!

I thought if their pool has some type of roof over it, it would help stay clean especially being under so many trees. Maybe not though. Any links where I can see multiple peoples set up of their coops and pools? What’s the best thing to put around the pool to help it from getting so dirty but not hurt their feet?

The door is the size 10”X12” for the coop pop door. I’m getting an ChickenGuard automatic door because I leave for work well before daylight.

 

[floppysquirrel04]

I would not cover their pool, it would not do anything to help keep debris out. Your going to want to dump and refill it daily anyway, why make more trouble for yourself? Moving the location of the pool every day will help, so that just one area of the yard doesn’t get all muddy. They look like they’ll be ready by the end of the week to me, but you could put them in now seeing as your coop will be a sufficient wind block. Maybe add some more ventilation tho, or it will get really stuffy and gross for you and your babies. Good idea with the automatic door.

 

[DuckyDonna]

I have stumbled upon a great pool set up. First of all I laid down some of that barrier black cloth-like stuff they put up around construction for soil erosion. Then I put a pallet on top of it. Next I had some flatish rocks laying around for years that I finally put to good use. I filled in the spaces between the rocks with those landscape pebbles you can get for about $4 at home depot. It only took 2 bags of them to do this area.

I've only got 4 ducks in this area but the pool stays mud free and I can see the bottom for about 4 days. The only stuff is their poop in the pool.

My other pool, which I need to do something similar to this one, gets to be a muddy mess in about 10 minutes.

Also, if you can keep the pool out of the sun in the summer time it helps keep the algae down.

 

[sunnie7]

I have stumbled upon a great pool set up. First of all I laid down some of that barrier black cloth-like stuff they put up around construction for soil erosion. Then I put a pallet on top of it. Next I had some flatish rocks laying around for years that I finally put to good use. I filled in the spaces between the rocks with those landscape pebbles you can get for about $4 at home depot. It only took 2 bags of them to do this area.
View attachment 2097432
I've only got 4 ducks in this area but the pool stays mud free and I can see the bottom for about 4 days. The only stuff is their poop in the pool.

My other pool, which I need to do something similar to this one, gets to be a muddy mess in about 10 minutes.

Also, if you can keep the pool out of the sun in the summer time it helps keep the algae down.

This is exactly what I was looking for!!! I have quite a bit of shade in areas so I think it will help. Thank you!!!

 

[sunnie7]

I would not cover their pool, it would not do anything to help keep debris out. Your going to want to dump and refill it daily anyway, why make more trouble for yourself? Moving the location of the pool every day will help, so that just one area of the yard doesn’t get all muddy. They look like they’ll be ready by the end of the week to me, but you could put them in now seeing as your coop will be a sufficient wind block. Maybe add some more ventilation tho, or it will get really stuffy and gross for you and your babies. Good idea with the automatic door.

I have windows on each side that I plan to keep open most of the time and a vent on the front just like the back. Any suggestions on where or what to add for more ventilation?