Duck enclosure pics?

[desertgirl]

Looking for ideas for duck enclosures (very limited on space).Any ideas?

 

[Leah-yes I know I'm crazy]

I'm looking also....someone dropped off eight and after a day in my living room I can tell you that something is going to have to pop up quickly because these things are messy. I did a search and noticed that duck houses are actually much simpler in general than chicken coops. That's got me optimistic.
How many ducks do you have and what kind are they?

 

[desertgirl]

None yet-trying to research how feasible it would be for me to have a couple (small yard, in the desert).

And the I will need a really creative story about how a couple of ducks turned up in our yard for my ever so patient DH!

You have eight??!! Wow!

 

[sianara]

I've had three ducks for 6 years now. They are a hybrid mallard/khaki campbell cross. They are egg layers primo! Each girl in her prime laid an average (and I am NOT exaggerating) over 300 eggs per year! They are getting older now but still lay approx 3 eggs per week each!

Anyway, (didn't mean to get off track) housing can be simple or complex. I tend to go complex

. The main thing necessary is protection from predators since they are literally sitting ducks at night. Also, space. They need plenty of space. My big girls have an area that is 23' x 40' and that is the minimum I would ever have again. That includes a 10'x17' run/house area that they always have access to. I let them out of the run in the morning into the 23'x40' yard and then lock them up again at night. They weigh about 6-7 pounds each and that's about how much liquid waste they each expend daily

My area is 306 sq feet per bird and includes their house and run.

I've gone through extensive renovation of their house last year and decided for the non winter months to have play sand inside their house. It is much easier to clean (pooper scoop 2x weekly) and I don't obsess about all those wood shavings that constantly need to be replaced. In the winter, they will have wood shavings again and I'll just have to change it twice a week and then compost it all in the spring!

I've got two bantam ducks coming in the fall and their space will be a little over 860 sq feet total. Since they are bantams and about 1/3 the size of the big girls I will probably only have a max of six birds in that area. I am building them a predator proof house/run out of hardware cloth. It will be 4' x 14' and include a 4' x 2' house, 4'x5' pool area and the area in between will just be a wire enclosure.

After my big girls are gone, I think I'll stick with bantam ducks.

Since you live in the desert all the liquid waste probably won't be as big a concern for you as it is for me in MA but the more space they have the better is my opinion.

If you do a "duck housing" google search you'll be amazed at the number of sites that pop up. Good luck and happy searching.

 

[Fancie]

My duck pen...

 

[Luvducks]

Ohhhhhh, i read your other post wanting us to talk you OUT of ducks.

I have two Khaki Campbells and two Blue swedish. They needed to get outside and my pen is not ready. I took 11 Pallets and nailed them together. Nailed wire to the inside of the pallets. Pallets are FREE.

I had a Dog box so i put that inside. They DO use it to get out of the wind and they go in at night. I am happy about this.

I had to cover the top with wire because of Hawks and Eagles, plus any cats or dogs are deterred. It is not easy or convenient to get in and out of to feed and water but good size for the ducks until I can get something permanent.

Go up to the right of the page and do a duck house search. There are some good ideas.