Drawing up plans for the duck house.

[21hens-incharge]

In drawing up the duck house plans I find I have questions.

Will a 4' tall back wall be high enough?
I know that will limit standing fully upright to clean but with a single slant roof it shouldn't be to bad. ..maybe.
The front wall is looking like 6'3" will be my max height.

Do you find need to ever hose out your duck house?
If so I better put in a clean out slot on that back wall....no biggie but would like to design it in if needed.

To protect a wood floor in the duck house will porch and floor paint be enough?
What works well for you?

Ventilation...yup planning on having that built in. I have a 2'x2' extra piece of greenhouse corrugated plastic I can build a frame for and add to the south side. I think building in other awning style windows should be easy enough. I like bright airy coops so I will find a way to add more. Permanent vents will have covers that I can raise on the inside to baffle not block the air.

To give maximum space and make best use of materials it looks like the same number of sheets of siding will be needed whether I go 5x8 or (given my pallet sizes) 6'8"x8'. That means I am of course going with the bigger size.
My roofing will still fit.

Unfortunately this "plan" puts the duck house pretty far from the electric in the chicken house. Should I have an electrician run power from the coop to the duck house? Water being my main worry.....

What are your thoughts....

I will update with pics and progress as things get rolling.

 

[CindyinSD]

I wouldn't give them a floor at all. Just deep bedding.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I put sheet vinyl over the wood floor in all my birds houses.

 

[cheezenkwackers]

I have rubber made bins on the floor in the back of my coop. They are filled with shavings and act as nest boxes. My coop is also not tall so having the bins allows me to pull out the containers for cleaning instead of getting in the tight space. I do not mind the low ceiling and I think it helps keep the coop warmer in the winter. However, when I go out of town my husband, who has bad knees, hates it.

 

[Bert96746]

I spent $300 building my duck house and they don't even use it they'd rather sleep in the grape vines or under our jet skis lol even in the winter!

 

[CindyinSD]

I spent $300 building my duck house and they don't even use it they'd rather sleep in the grape vines or under our jet skis lol even in the winter!View attachment 2062336

As long as nothing eats them.

 

[DuckyDonna]

I think you'll be sorry if you don't run electricity to it. I did that and it's next to impossible to see when cleaning it out each day. I've got it now but it was awful trying to hold a flashlight and clean at the same time. Also, if you can't stand up in the house you will not be happy I promise!

 

[21hens-incharge]

The electric will have to wait until after the covid madness eases up. I definitely like having a light in my big chicken coop.
My drawings have it going from 4' to full standing height 2.5' from the outside of the back wall, so roughly 2' from the inside of the back wall. That it won't be a head knocker in there.
My big chicken house has one short wall....I don't recall just how tall it is but I think it is around 3 foot.

Until I can get power out to the duck house I will have to count on light from windows and a head worn flashlight.

I found a couple pieces of thick smoked Plexiglas in my shop rack....gotta see if they are usable sizes once I dig them out.