Duck coop?

[duck eggs]

my muscovy ducks are housed with chickens they sleep under the chicken bed on white cedar pine shavings
does any one know where i can find mallard ducks in hawaii on the big island? and both females have one black egg each is that the one that will hatch or how
do i tell if it dead? thank you

 

[NajmoNests]

I luv your duck house!

It shows thought, practicality, safety and comfort for your birds. Way to g

o!

 

[craftymama86]

~*Sweet Cheeks*~ :

I had picked up some large, heavy, free pallets with the intent of making a duck night time house I could lock BUT they are so heavy that I opted to make one out of old 2 x 6 fencing instead. I'm really happy with the way it turned out and plan to build more as my 8 ducks mature and pair off.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/24846_ducks_aug_21_2010_003.jpg

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/24846_ducks_aug_21_2010_006.jpg

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/24846_duck_shelter_aug_22_2010_003.jpg

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/24846_duck_shelter_aug_22_2010_005.jpg

How perfect! I think I can make something like this. We have scraps of wood laying around and also a couple nice pieces of siding from our coop project. Great job!

 

[wilmothfarms]

I have Pekins and my chickens all living together for a year now...no problems what so ever. The ducks will prefer to be outside about 98% of the time. They generally only come in the coop when its been super hot outside, but I provide shade for them outside so even that rarely happens, its only been on the hottest days of the year and because the coop was cooler. And they lay in the nesting boxes I have on the coop floor about the same percentage as they lay outside. I have no idea how she fits in the box either!!!

They are a little messy so unless your yard is large if it is enclosed, be prepared for that. If you have several, They will get their water everywhere - when they are younger this is worse and their poo of course is MUCH bigger so more cleanup! As they get older the water situation isnt as bad. I use the water hose to let them play in it in the summer or the sprinkler so I actually add to the muddy mess - but they LOVE it!
Mine all get along wonderfully. The chickens know the ducks rule the roost..its just the way of things since they were born. They were all raised as babies together tho, so no experience if I had bought them at diff ages. THAT I will find out when I hatch my duck eggs this spring. But I am making a separate duck enclosed yard and housing only for the fact that I want them to have more room for just themselves. AND they CAN NOT eat MEDICATED CHIC FEED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They can be given antibiotics but at TOTALLY diff dosages!!!!!!!! You can easily over dose them! I've heard they are excellent moms to hatch chicks also!

Housing is easy, the little house that was posted is great!!!!!!! They are so much more naturally insulated than chickens even! And mine prefer being out in a snow storm or a thunderstorm even than I care for! In tornado weather I ran them around the yard to catch them to put them in the coop and it was more unsafe for me than them...they naturally know where in the yard its safe for them to hunker down at! I still worry. I love my ducks...I worry about my livestock then too tho more than myself. But horses are easy to train to come when I call...ducks not as much when they know what to do!
They are easy to keep...they know what to do, just listen to them, sometimes they know best. They cant have seeds or bread. And best on duck feed than chicken feed, but they can and do well on layer feed!
You'll totally love them and find they will bring you SO much enjoyment.

Your TSC guy was exaggerating..they swim around a pool playing, but mine never run around the yard causing a ruckus....making messes! They will drink from the chicken waterer, but whoever posted they like a pail, is totally correct and if they can stand in it...they totally will!!!!! They get their water dirty so its got to be changed often.

Mallards however...if you dont have cover over your yard will fly out and a HUGE possibility they WONT come back. Doesnt matter the season. I wouldnt chance it. I free range my chickens, but they have a separate yard that is covered and when I had my mallards I was SO thankful cause there was no way I could let them out, they are excellent fliers and just havent been a domesticated breed long enough to chance it. But if they have bonded with another breed and brought up with them..you do have a chance of them sticking around. But dont be disappointed if they leave. Wow are Mallards so much smarter than Pekins....just throwing that in there. They learn so much faster and Pekins follow their direction!
hope that helps. I did a lot of research before I got mine and talked to A LOT of people here on BYC and a duck breeder locally who has bred ducks of all kinds for YEARS and he has helped me out tremendously. So hope this helps out too.
Good luck...you'll love your ducks and they will give you SO much enjoyment! Handle them often and they will LOVE you and LOVE the affection in return! Just do it often!!!
I cant wait to hatch my babies in the spring and get a couple more breeds! Looking forward to getting some black Cayuga ducks!

 

[hcppam]

mine are in a razed dog house (snow).

 

[bryan99705]

My goose, ducks, chickens, and turkeys share the 1/2 acre fenced and skirted field every summer without issues. They even share shade and hide in the brushpile together when a eagle or raven gets too close. The turkeys have their side of the coop. the chickens have theirs. In the past, the goose either slept in the yard or in the greenhouse but now she shacks up with the turkeys and thinks she the boss(she's in for a suprise, they're BBBs) The ducks had a open ended shipping crate mainly for laying or slept in the yard. There is a kiddy pool for the waterfowl and for drinking, that gets refilled daily as well as water containers scattered around the yard so everything has easy water access.

I'm experimenting and switching all the birds to wild game bird grower and have a oyster shell feeder in the chickens area because all birds have access to the chickens area and love to eat their food but I need the goose and turkeys on the high growth feed.

As long as your animals have room, feed, and plenty of water they will be happy and you should be fine. The only thing to be careful of is chickens and turkeys mixed if you have blackhead disease in your area

 

[calgal98]

~*Sweet Cheeks*~ :

I had picked up some large, heavy, free pallets with the intent of making a duck night time house I could lock BUT they are so heavy that I opted to make one out of old 2 x 6 fencing instead. I'm really happy with the way it turned out and plan to build more as my 8 ducks mature and pair off.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/24846_ducks_aug_21_2010_003.jpg

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/24846_ducks_aug_21_2010_006.jpg

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/24846_duck_shelter_aug_22_2010_003.jpg

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/24846_duck_shelter_aug_22_2010_005.jpg

Oooh, I really like that. I wanted to do something with some of our old horse fencing and that would be perfect! Thanks for sharing!​

 

[ChickInDelight]

I am also in the process of building a duckhouse. I have a thread about my pallet house built for under $100. Construction is still in the works.

My guys free range and sleep on my back porch. I won't be able to hose the porch daily in cold weather. Presently, everyone is so fascinated with the building, materials and activity. The cats and dogs are all over me and everything. The chickens can't wait to check on daily progress. But the ducks are totally chicken! I think I will have to starve them during the day and coax them in with food at night.

I am planning 2 chicken-wired panels in the front for fresh air. If they are not wintering well, then I will likely put panels on hinges to close the chicken wire pallets. I plan a tarp for the roof. Here is the beginning - an octagon:

 

[Darklingstorm]

Quote:
From my understanding only wild mallards can fly away, domesticated mallards can not fly and will not migrate when it gets cold.

 

[Darklingstorm]

When searching the internet for ideas try using DUCK HUT for the search. For some reason that is what most people call them. I'm also building a hut this fall and separating my ducks. I have 2 khaki Campbells (male & female) and they are too messy for my chickens happiness. I go out several times a day and put out ice water for them all. Within minutes the ducks have mucked it up and the chickens get testy about it. So I placed one water dish were the ducks can't reach and now the girls won't drink out of anything else.

Considerations (from what I read): ducks are hotter than chickens so need lots of ventilation and can stand colder weather; depending on were you live, depends on the amount of winter protection you will need. Ducks need 3 square feet inside (hut) and 15 square feet outside minimum. I'm going to give them more. Though water fowl, they need a place to dry off and must have protection from winds and direct sun (if it gets real hot in your area) and of course predators.

Give us some pictures of your hut when you get it done, please. Help those of us still planning, like me