Building a duck pen for long stays?

[BigBlock]

I recently came home with a magpie and a runner duckling. All this water changing has me rethinking ducks! I'm building them a new pen and I would like to be able to leave for 2-3 days and not have to have somebody come and deal with my ducks. Is this realistic?

I'd like to build a pen that has a 20 gallon mixing tub full of water and some kind of automatic waterer to keep it full. What kind of feeder would I need to last 2 ducks for a few days? How many square feet would the ducks need in their run to be happy for a few days?

 

[Amiga]

I can see the logic in your idea. But for myself, I don't like the idea of leaving ducks without someone to check on them at least every 8 hours or so.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I can see the logic in your idea. But for myself, I don't like the idea of leaving ducks without someone to check on them at least every 8 hours or so.

X2 alot can happen especially when ones not home.

 

[BigBlock]

X2 alot can happen especially when ones not home.

Such as? I would want them to be able to go at least 24 hours in their pen if need be, even if I had somebody coming to check on them for me. Not ducklings of course, but when they get older.

I'm thinking of building a relatively large pen for 2 ducks, about 10x10. I was thinking I could have multiple feeders available in case one becomes unuseable, and multiple places to drink.

Other than constant food and water, it seems like I could leave my ducklings mostly unattended, though I don't.

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

Predators could break in, dig in and get to them. Ducks are funny critters and can get themselves into the oddest trouble when left alone.

 

[Amiga]

Such as? I would want them to be able to go at least 24 hours in their pen if need be, even if I had somebody coming to check on them for me. Not ducklings of course, but when they get older.

I'm thinking of building a relatively large pen for 2 ducks, about 10x10. I was thinking I could have multiple feeders available in case one becomes unuseable, and multiple places to drink.

Other than constant food and water, it seems like I could leave my ducklings mostly unattended, though I don't.

Well, there was the day Einz hooked herself like a fish on a loop of coated wire. The gap in the loop was just a few millimeters. How could she have made it pierce her lower mandible? How long would it have taken her to rip her mandible apart pulling against it? I was nearby, and was able to hold her, calm her, and soon (though it felt like hours) get her unhooked. I cannot be there 24/7, and it might have turned out much worse. But in a day, infections can really set in. At least I could have begun wound care within hours.

How long does it take a predator to find a weak spot in the shelter? If no one is around for 24 hours, they have loads of time to dig, push and chew.

My feeling is that as much as I have tried to anticipate every eventuality, I have missed some things. So checking in helps compensate for some of that.

The low maintenance approach is great for saving you time, and there may be times you would need to leave them in their pen for quite a while. I would at the very least get someone trained who can come and check, who would know what to look for and be familiar enough with the ducks that they would be able to pick one up to treat it if needed.