Coop for just 3 pet ducks?

[Knighstar679]

I’ve never heard of those. What are a few stores that might carry them?

Most Petco‘s will let you take their pallets for free. You just have to figure out which day they get their shipments.

 

[21hens-incharge]

This is a quick search on this site for pallet coops.

Yes it is definitely trading hard labor for free lumber.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threadloom/search?keywords=Pallet+coop&tab=0

 

[Suzyq16]

Pallets are the wooden platforms goods are loaded onto when trucks deliver food and other goods. They are often made of hard-woods like oak in the east and redwood in the west. You can often get them for free just by asking at grocers and home centers. Just drive behind the store to see if they have any piled up in the back, then go inside and ask. Don't just take them because many shops recycle them and get a credit of $10-$20 each.

If you are going to build with pallets do yourself a favor and get a "Pellet Buster" avalible on Amazon and other places. A pair of heavy work gloves, a framing hammer, vice grips, small pry-bar and an electric sander.


View attachment 2130470
Be prepared to remove 50-80 nails per pallet. You are trading work free wood.

Thank you so much for the advice!!!!

 

[Suzyq16]

I’ve never heard of those. What are a few stores that might carry them?

Oh my goodness!

Hi Suzyq16,

I was in the exact same position as you are in last year. You can read the article I posted then, here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...-how-did-this-happen-the-cost-of-ducks.75097/

Also, there are pictures included of my ducks and their coop (home).

I built my coop from fee pallets and scrap wood I had laying around.

Here are the things I am happy with and the things I would change:

• Cheap but took a while to build, so get started now. It took me about 10-12 hours to assemble, not including prepping the pallets.
• Whole front opens for easy access.
• Wire cloth windows on both side for cross ventilation.
• Wire cloth top to keep predators out. (local tom cat, raccoons and we even have coyotes in my suburban neighborhood)
• Convertible top. (old piece of Sunbrella cloth hardware cloth under screwed to frame) I can open when need but is usually closed for shade and rain.

Things I don’t like or would do differently:

• Labor intensive. I had to breakdown the pallets (very difficult) and sand the wood so my babies don’t get splinters in their webs.
• Door is also a ramp. Ducks don’t do ramps well they like low steps. I need to sink the legs into the ground deeper, so that it is closer to level.
• Cheap hinges. Buy real brass or stainless steel. All others rust and makes opening and closing difficult when rusted.
• Same for latches, I used positive lock gate-hook-latches and the springs rusted and they are hard to use now. (but saved my babies form a racoon)
• I should have made my hutch a few feet longer (it is 2’ deep, 4.5’ wide and 4’ tall) I now have two babies that just hatched and I will need more room in a month or so.

Other advice, keep the pool outside the run or it will be a giant pool of mud. Let your ducks out a few times a week to use the pool. They will be happy and so will you.

Get a washing machine drain hose to use to siphon the water out of the pool.

If you have a few scraps left over build some low wide steps into the pool. I used some stacked concrete pavers I had laying around.

Provide a place with low shade. My ducks dug a hole to go under the hutch ramp to rest during the day. They naturally want a cool place out of the sun and safe from hawks. Use your imagination here. Also put plenty of straw here as they will spend a lot of time napping under the shade and no one wants dirty ducks.

For an inexpensive fence I just used welded wire fence from the home center wood stakes and zip-ties. My ducks have a 10’ by 30’ run and they are let out into my yard daily to swim, play, forage, and lounge around.

I used frozen peas to entice them into the hutch every evening at sunset for about nine months. Now they just go inside when they see me coming in the evening. (I still give them peas though)

My in-laws live with me and my father in law retired 3 months ago. They follow him everywhere, sit on his lap and just generally love being around him. That is why I decided to add two babies this year. The more time you spend with them, the more they will bond with you.

My ducks each produce about 1 egg a day, so learn to love cooking with duck eggs.

Included is a pic of my new babies napping in my daughter's hair.

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oh my goodness! I’m still trying to figure out this thread! I’m new to this and I’m terrible with technology! LOL I’m literally just now seeing this! Thank you so much for getting back to me! I love your idea of the coop and I have several questions. First of all, do you still have a Ducks? Are you glad you kept them? Does your daughter still play with them? Is it a lot of work? I was looking at your set up and I think it could really work for me. Do you still keep them in the kennel inside of you Hannah would? I have the words in my backyard and there are fox and all types of critters so I’m curious if that would keep them out? Did you have to buy a bigger pool and if so how often do you let them swim? I have Rouen ducks and they’re water ducks so I feel bad keeping them if they don’t have a place to swim.
I have three kids, a dog, two lizards and a husband who isn’t fond of the ducks. I don’t want to invest money if in the end it’s all going to be a pain and a huge mess. My daughter and I have grown to love these three ducklings but we both realize they aren’t going to be ducklings for too much longer and they are a lot of work! If you could give me any advice it would be well appreciated. Thank you again for getting back to me.

 

[Suzyq16]

This is a quick search on this site for pallet coops.

Yes it is definitely trading hard labor for free lumber.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threadloom/search?keywords=Pallet+coop&tab=0

I might have to hire someone to build it. I tried hanging up a hammock the other day and it collapsed an hour later... lol

 

[Suzyq16]

Also look on Craig’s list for free dog house or chicken coop a dog house would need ventilation and a door for security and I have seen where people have gotten free coops too.

I just got a free xL kennel to keep them in for now. I know it’s too small but until I can figure something out it’s my best option.

 

[DuckyDonna]

I think once you get a secure coop and run for them to be in during the day you'll find they aren't really much work at all. You'll have a routine and it will be the same thing every day.

At night I clean out the 4 water buckets and put in freshwater. I have to refill their food buckets about every other night and every few days change the water in their pools. If I have to do the pools it takes a few minutes longer but I bet it doesn't take me 10-15 minutes tops at night and even less time in the morning. In the morning it's let them out, gather the eggs, clean the poop out of the pen, and set out the food buckets.

Of course, I've got a chair in the duck run and I love to just sit and watch them after I get the chores done. Sometimes I'm out there so long my husband comes looking for me.

Keep in mind too I've got 10 ducks and you only have 3 so you won't have near as much to do as I do. Maybe 2 water buckets, a kiddie pool and 1 food bucket. Easy peasy!

 

[RichL]

"First of all, do you still have a Ducks? Are you glad you kept them? Does your daughter still play with them? Is it a lot of work? I was looking at your set up and I think it could really work for me. Do you still keep them in the kennel inside of you Hannah would? I have the words in my backyard and there are fox and all types of critters so I’m curious if that would keep them out? Did you have to buy a bigger pool and if so how often do you let them swim? "

Hi,
Yes I still have ducks, we just added two babies to our flock. My daughter doesn't spend as much time with them as when they are babies, but she does go out and spend an hour or so once a week. Usually she is around during the fun times but when there is work, like just after I changed the water in the pool and let the ducks out of the pen. My run is along the privacy fence in the back yard. I have a welded wire fence that keeps the ducks in, but it is not enough to keep foxes or raccoons out. I lock my ducks up in the hutch at sunset. You may need a better fence than what I use.

My ducks are still using the little plastic pool. I tried an inflatable once and the sharp little nails on their feet had it ruined in just a few min. I would like a bigger pool but they are happy with any source of water to play in/with.

It takes me 5-10 min each morning and evening on most days. In the morning I gather eggs, feed them and water them. At night I toss a handful of fresh straw in the hutch. I use the "Deep Litter" method and clean out the hutch twice a year. The dirty litter goes on top of my compost pile and in a few weeks it is plant food. I buy 2-3 bails of straw each year. I never put food inside the hutch. I wash the dishes weekly. I clean the pool weekly. I use a length of washing machine drain hose to siphon the water out of the pool in to the grass. I drain it in a different location each week, otherwise the droppings in the water will burn the grass.

I try to spend at least an hour a day with my ducks, just sitting with them talking and singing to them. Sometimes I bring my tablet out and read e-mail or an e-book in the run.

The only regret I have is loosing one duck to a raccoon because I didn't put the flock away early enough.

 

[DuckyDonna]

"First of all, do you still have a Ducks? Are you glad you kept them? Does your daughter still play with them? Is it a lot of work? I was looking at your set up and I think it could really work for me. Do you still keep them in the kennel inside of you Hannah would? I have the words in my backyard and there are fox and all types of critters so I’m curious if that would keep them out? Did you have to buy a bigger pool and if so how often do you let them swim? "

Hi,
Yes I still have ducks, we just added two babies to our flock. My daughter doesn't spend as much time with them as when they are babies, but she does go out and spend an hour or so once a week. Usually she is around during the fun times but when there is work, like just after I changed the water in the pool and let the ducks out of the pen. My run is along the privacy fence in the back yard. I have a welded wire fence that keeps the ducks in, but it is not enough to keep foxes or raccoons out. I lock my ducks up in the hutch at sunset. You may need a better fence than what I use.

My ducks are still using the little plastic pool. I tried an inflatable once and the sharp little nails on their feet had it ruined in just a few min. I would like a bigger pool but they are happy with any source of water to play in/with.

It takes me 5-10 min each morning and evening on most days. In the morning I gather eggs, feed them and water them. At night I toss a handful of fresh straw in the hutch. I use the "Deep Litter" method and clean out the hutch twice a year. The dirty litter goes on top of my compost pile and in a few weeks it is plant food. I buy 2-3 bails of straw each year. I never put food inside the hutch. I wash the dishes weekly. I clean the pool weekly. I use a length of washing machine drain hose to siphon the water out of the pool in to the grass. I drain it in a different location each week, otherwise the droppings in the water will burn the grass.

I try to spend at least an hour a day with my ducks, just sitting with them talking and singing to them. Sometimes I bring my tablet out and read e-mail or an e-book in the run.

The only regret I have is loosing one duck to a raccoon because I didn't put the flock away early enough.

I do almost exactly the same thing as you as far as maintenance.

I would like to know how or see a picture of your washing machine siphon system. I would certainly love to try that.

I did use a siphon at one time but it involved so many steps going back and forth from the pool to the water faucet. I had a 100' hose, turned it on with the end in the pool weighing it down with something then going back and shutting off the water at the faucet, taking the hose off the faucet and walking the hose downhill to let it drain. If your washing machine hose is easier than that, and knowing how short they are, I'd sure love to know how to do it!

 

[RichL]

I was at Lowes and wanted the cheapest hose available to drain the kiddie pool. I was thinking about cutting a hole in the bottom and installing a bathtub drain when I spotted this:

I think I paid $3.99.
I submerge the entire hose in the dirty pool until the hose is full of water. I hold the palm of my hand over the end as I lift it out over the side of the pool.
Gravity does the rest. In 10-15 min my pool is nearly empty.
I give the bottom a quick scrub with a brush , rinse and fill for the new week.