Cayuga Coop

[Taj_MaChicken]

We have a ramp into the coop for the ducks, just like our chick coop, and they do just fine. Then, for our pool, we have a ramp going in, and pavers as steps to get out.

ETA: 2 of my 3 ducks were from a farm, and live in our fenced in back yard, so I don't concern myself with making sure they get in their house. It's there, and if they want to go in, they will, but they like laying under the rose bushes. I'm not much help there, sorry. Good luck!

 

[Steven Bussell]

My cayuga's just turned 5 weeks old yesterday. I raised them in the coop .This last weekend was their first time outside. Tonight is the third night I had to put them inside.
I have moved the food and water outside. Around 7am or so I open the door and they use the ramp with no problems at all.
To help train them to put themselves to bed I wait just before sunset to feed them a treat. I put it on the ramp. They get about half way up and decide to go back to the run..
I also have a light inside so they can see its safe to enter.
My run is safe. But last Friday this raccoon the size of a pickup showed up out of nowhere.
12 years living here I have never seen one in our neighborhood

 

[Miss Lydia]

That coon didn’t get your ducks I hope?

 

[Steven Bussell]

That coon didn’t get your ducks I hope?

No ... it showed up before we were letting them out.. Thankfully we had made coop and run very safe.
We added solar lights around the coop and run.
Plus are dogs are very good about letting us know if something is outside.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Happy to hear that!!

 

[DuckyBabies]

We haven’t had a problem with predators yet, but we do have coyotes, hawks, and owls in the area. I feel pretty good about their safety in the coop, but I also know different animals can get in through small holes. If you wanted added security, you could put hardware cloth all around. Probably something I should do myself for my coop!

Did you have predator problems? I am worried if I leave them in thd bottom run without putting them in the top part they risk being eaten.

 

[room onthebroom]

I think that ramp is way too steep & narrow. If you can make it wider & much longer (less of an incline) they will eventually learn to do it. It will take time. Mine seem to take a solid 5 days of the same coaxing routine till they finally get it.

If you decide to make steps instead of a duck ramp make the steps short & wide because duck legs don't have the same range of motion as chicken legs do