Basic Duck Housing Requirements???

[Moe Biscuits]

I've been fighting through illness, bad weather, and prior commitments to get my chicken coop built for my six red pullets and two cornish rocks, when it occurred to me that the two Rouens are gonna need a home of their own as well. I don't think I'm going to be able to put as much thought into their house as they're almost too big for their brooder box right now, and I'm gonna have to get it built like, quick. So my question is:

What are the basic necessities (size, nesting boxes, etc) that I need to build, and maybe improve on later?

 

[BeccaOH]

I have my ducks sharing a large run with my chickens. The chickens go inside at night and during bad weather, but my ducks don't. I do have a couple ducks that will go inside to lay their eggs on the floor in the corner, but most of my ducks lay their eggs in a little A-frame open-ended hutch I built that has about a 3 x 1.5 footprint. The ducks prefer to stay outside during rain and snow.

I've seen ducks get by with a dog house shelter.

If you have a high predator area, you may have to think about the fencing sturdiness and locking them indoors at night. I haven't had such issues, but my ducks also have two dogs staked outside the pens and 2 pairs of geese that yell at any strange yard activity.

 

[Amiga]

Ducks don't need roosts, and sometimes won't use nesting boxes. I have a 4'x8' little "house" for my ten runners. The rule of thumb I followed was minimum 3 sf per bird for the coop. In a pinch, however, you could pack them more tightly. A friend has a dogloo for her three runners. Because I lock them in at night (probably a dozen different kinds of predators nearby), I don't want them squished together - I suspect it might cause behavioral and health problems - I put in the effort to have a spacious nighttime housing for them.

I do have half inch hardware cloth over all openings.

 

[Moe Biscuits]

Very good info. Thanks so much!

I do live in a pretty predator-dense area. I'm on 220 acres of cattle land and I've seen coons, opossums, hawks, coyotes, etc. so I will have to make something that I can close up. Glad they don't need anything too elaborate, as I'm having a hard enough time with the coop. Never built one before, and I'm sure I'm overthinking it.

 

[CityChick15]

Quote:
I am facing the same dilemma!

I have seven chicks and one 5 week old Indian Runner. Right now she is sleeping in a dog crate inside the house. She gets plenty of exercise during the day. I cant have her with the chickens anymore she makes a total mess of their water and food. They all get along perfectly well, but the duck just destroys the chickens living environment. So I am in the process of building my first coop and plan on providing my quacking princess with a Dog Igloo or house with her own water and food source. The chickens will be in the coop with nesting boxes and perches ect.
I have read a few great books on raising backyard chickens (acquired from my local library).
This one was particularly useful, the chapter on coop construction was simple, basic and chocked full of great information!

HOMEMADE LIVING, KEEPING CHICKENS

Unfortunately the photos of the coops are uninspiring, but the info is great!

Good luck!

My kiddos enjoying a lovely spring day!

 

[BarefootMom]

my ducks sleep outside and don't need much. they can go in the barn if they want but most of the time they are just wandering aroudn the yard. they have 300 acres to roam around on. They won't lay in boxes, I don't know where they are laying their eggs at this time

hoping they are making nests...

 

[Amiga]

I use half inch hardware cloth over all openings for their nighttime shelter. I read too many stories of raccoons reaching through the chicken wire and pulling the ducks out piece by piece.

No thanks.

I also have a couple of strands of electric fence tape around their house and "screened porch." We have bobcats and black bears in the neighborhood, as well as foxes, coyotes, raccoons, . . .etc. etc.