Duck coop, run/pen, etc.

[duckdog]

Hello, I'm new at raising any poultry. My ducklings are one month old, and it is time that I get to planning/building their coop and area. I have some questions before I start gathering materials.

• I have pekins, and I am assuming of building coop and space based on the largest suggestion of space. IE Article on Backyard Chickens states the coop should allow "3-5 square feet per duck." Therefore, I should go with 5 square feet per duck, or should I go bigger?
• My brothers have chickens. For their coops they used wheels to make them mobile. It worked well. But I have not found mention of doing so for ducks. Can anyone think of issues ducks may have with this?
• How long should they be allowed out from the coop to a pen/run/free ranging daily?
• I never had seen a pekin in person, but choose them because their temperament seemed best suited for my situation. Still their size has surprised me and the space needed may be more than I had planned. If I can not accommodate the five that I have, I will rehome 2 of them. If doing so, what should I look for in the person (red and green lights both)?
• Thank you

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Ducks need space, they rapidly turn anything into mud. I have pekins, they never leave the ground (maybe a few inches at a wing assisted run). The more space you can give them, the better - but forget any thought at a raised coop, mine have difficulty with even shallow ramps.

Chicken tractors work well for chickens. Because a duck's space needs are greater, and because they need water (which they will spill, EVERYWHERE), a tractor design large enough for a reasonable amount of ducks rapidly becomes unweildy/excessively heavy. With a mixed flock, I don't think you can make it big enough - I watch my drakes chase the hens 100' or more to jump them, and you generally won't find two of my drakes w/i 10' of one another (unless they are eating). Those distances don't work for tractoring.

Mine free range constantly, I have acres. Obviously, that doesn't work for most, so I have no advice for those more space contrained, except that "more is better".

Trust your gut, or eat them yourself.

 

[duckdog]

They are all hens. I can't have them free range except when I can be out there, a couple hawks come by from time to time, and although we have close to 2 acres, our street is busy, and narrow. The coop I am referring to is not a chicken tractor (I had to look it up). Basically it is a coop with the frame is on the ground, and 2 wheels are on one end. When you let the ducks out you can lift one end (kinda like a wheelbarrow) and move the coop. It helps to protect the lawn, and give the ducks fresh ground daily. I think I may have to rehome 2 of them (they have been sticking together), but I really don't want to. I'll see what I can figure out. Thanks for your input.

 

[JustDuckingOff]

Here is my currently work in progress so to speak. Basically i have built kennel panels. Still need to do an apron and cover the bottom 18 inches with chicken wire and the top. The panels can be bolted or screwed together and moved easily.

 

[JustDuckingOff]

this will give some perspective. Chicken house and run on the left. Oh and the new duck house hence the reason the one panel is not installed.

 

[spryone3711]

Ducks need space, they rapidly turn anything into mud. I have pekins, they never leave the ground (maybe a few inches at a wing assisted run). The more space you can give them, the better - but forget any thought at a raised coop, mine have difficulty with even shallow ramps.

Chicken tractors work well for chickens. Because a duck's space needs are greater, and because they need water (which they will spill, EVERYWHERE), a tractor design large enough for a reasonable amount of ducks rapidly becomes unweildy/excessively heavy. With a mixed flock, I don't think you can make it big enough - I watch my drakes chase the hens 100' or more to jump them, and you generally won't find two of my drakes w/i 10' of one another (unless they are eating). Those distances don't work for tractoring.

Mine free range constantly, I have acres. Obviously, that doesn't work for most, so I have no advice for those more space contrained, except that "more is better".

Trust your gut, or eat them yourself.

My ducks have a raised coop. I screwed bamboo sticks on the ramp to make it easier for them to grip. The coop is about 2 and a half feet off the ground. I don't even have to put them in there at night, I go out at dusk and they are already in there!

 

[U_Stormcrow]

My ducks have a raised coop. I screwed bamboo sticks on the ramp to make it easier for them to grip. The coop is about 2 and a half feet off the ground. I don't even have to put them in there at night, I go out at dusk and they are already in there!

What sort of ducks do you have? My Pekins are very close to the Cx of the duck world. Fat, lazy, grounded.

 

[spryone3711]

What sort of ducks do you have? My Pekins are very close to the Cx of the duck world. Fat, lazy, grounded.

I have Muscovys. 5 of them. But I've been training them to go in their coop since moving them outside

 

[Shadow87]

If still young you could definitely train them to come back at sun down (Typically) or Before if you choose. I have 6 Pekins, 7 Khakis with the oldest being under 3 years old! I also have Chickens and Roosters, They all get along. I have basic shelters for each group consisting of a Large Dog house and a runner fence that comes off of the doghouses and a pool for each group. Hope that helps