Coop Opinions

[TheFarmWithNoBarn2019]

Hi there. I am the proud Mama to five ducklings that are almost four weeks old and NEED to be moved outside lol. Both for them and for me I am totally new to ducks (and chickens lol) and I had the totally wrong idea for coops. So now I’m trying to figure something out for them. I want y’alls opinions on what’s the better option: a plastic playhouse converted OR a square dog house with a door added? I can’t make up my mind!! Or a store bought from Tractor Supply

HELP!

 

[cavemanrich]

You can make it ether way, or buy one. Here are my thoughts.
All those options you mentioned seem somewhat small to me. I know you have only 5 right now, and they are small. The VERY IMPORTANT, part you should focus on is a SECURE RUN. You need to have it predator proof. Since you have ducks, you must consider at least a small plastic pool so they can live like ducks. I have a converted repurposed Playhouse for my 5 chickens. They are fine in there since they occupy different levels. I would consider it too small for five ducks, since they live on ground level.

WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, and

 

[Miss Lydia]

In Storey's guide to Raising Ducks he rec. 2-4sq' per duck depending on what size they will be when full grown. 4X8' for small flock of 6-12 ducks again depending on ducks size at maturity The bigger the better.

 

[TheFarmWithNoBarn2019]

Good morning! Thank you for the responses! The run I’m good on. They have plenty of space there and I have a plastic kiddie pool for them. As far as the house goes, I do plan to build a larger one I just need something for now to give them more space and get their adorable but stinky butts outside lol. So the small is temporary

 

[Jpat]

Good morning! Thank you for the responses! The run I’m good on. They have plenty of space there and I have a plastic kiddie pool for them. As far as the house goes, I do plan to build a larger one I just need something for now to give them more space and get their adorable but stinky butts outside lol. So the small is temporary

what worked for me was having a small house to get by and give me time to build a nice big walk in coop

So its like
Build a small one then build a second later

Or spend the Payolli and just get the big one.

i liked the small one for the first year, Its had up to 4 ducks and 2 chickens in it at once and its only 2 feet by 4 feet. Had to clean it once a week for the last year but it got me by

 

[Loopeend]

For 5 adults ducks; I would make a night-breeding-shed for 6, with from the door an empty hallway the size of an adult duck (6 'corridors' with no walls betweens), and between the 6 breedings places a finger at least. For minimum size..
They don't like to touch each other while laying an egg..
So quite big.

Anf then maybe a pen around it if you live in an area with predators.

 

[Callender Girl]

My first four Indian runner ducks -- who were brooded in the garage -- moved into a converted 3-foot-by-10-foot second-hand chicken tractor. It was seriously sturdy, built with 2-by-4's but needed to be wrapped in hardware cloth, which was placed over the chicken wire it came with. About a fourth of the top is covered, and in the winter, I surround it with hay bales or the big bags of pine shavings (which stay clean and are usable in the spring for the chicken coops).

Nine runners now live in the shelter and spend most days free-ranging. When the last three were ducklings, they lived in an adjoining giant doghouse with a door I made from a discarded box fan grate.

In other words, I'd rather use recycled stuff. Good quality store-bought housing is mighty expensive, and the cheaper stuff often isn't sturdy. And, yes, that is a sturdy coop in my avatar -- which I snagged at less than half price on Craigslist. And, it was still costly!!

Good luck with whatever you decide.