coop ideas/designs that work best for ducks

[jujubean99]

I am going to be ordering some bantam ducks soon (YAY!!!) but I am going to build them a new coop first (aarg) and I was wondering if anyone who has had ducks in the past has any helpful tips and tricks for my coop design/plan. anything, whether it's the entire coop set-up or minor details, that really works well or I should avoid doing would be very helpful!
thanks!

 

[nissa_loves_cats]

What I use to house ducks (and other poultry) is a calf hutch. This is a massive 'doghouse' that dairy farmers use to raise a calf in. You can buy new ones at the feed mill but I got most of my by running an ad in my local weekly paper asking for cheap secondhand calf hutches.

For an enclosure around the calf hutch, I have 2 old dog pens made out of panels of chain link. (It doesn't work for my dog because she's an escape artist). These pens are great because you can move them from time to time (if you are strong enough). Because I can't afford to buy more dog pens, I am also using cattle panels (also available at feed mills/farm stores) which are 16 ft long by 5 feet high. I have to cut the 16 foot lengths in half to get them home in my truck. I then cover the individual stock panel sections with chicken wire, and then I can assemble them into pens around the calf hutch--- pens which can be broken down again and moved easily.

 

[zephyrcreek]

Quote:
I buy cattle panels all the time to make hoop houses. They can be bent and transported in the back of your truck. It takes 2 people, but can be easily done. We walk the panels into the truck bed and then one person walks the middle section up over their head while the second person stands at the farthest section and walks forward. I can usually bend three panels with the help on one of the teenage boys at TSC. Once the panel is bending up and stays steady I slip out of the middle and help walk the other end into the truck. Once all the panel is inside of the truck bed I very carefully let go and grab the tail gate. I have a friend say that her husband transported 6 at a time this way. I think 3 is my limit as I would not be strong enough to manuever more than that at a time.

When I get home I place one hand on the panels and carefully unlatch the tailgate. I then just walk the panels back down and pull them out when all the tension has been realeased.

 

[4ee2buff]

"What I use to house ducks (and other poultry) is a calf hutch. This is a massive 'doghouse' that dairy farmers use to raise a calf in. You can buy new ones at the feed mill but I got most of my by running an ad in my local weekly paper asking for cheap secondhand calf hutches.

For an enclosure around the calf hutch, I have 2 old dog pens made out of panels of chain link. (It doesn't work for my dog because she's an escape artist). These pens are great because you can move them from time to time (if you are strong enough). Because I can't afford to buy more dog pens, I am also using cattle panels (also available at feed mills/farm stores) which are 16 ft long by 5 feet high. I have to cut the 16 foot lengths in half to get them home in my truck. I then cover the individual stock panel sections with chicken wire, and then I can assemble them into pens around the calf hutch--- pens which can be broken down again and moved easily."

I am curious how this works in cold climates during winter. Do you insulate? if so, how?

Im thinking of using a calf hutch for my hens