Duck enclosures?

[chickengirl01]

So I just "saved" four ducks. The school that my step mom works for does an experiment where they hatch ducks and then watch them grow a little. They then either get to keep the ducks or return them to the farm. Supposedly once they get back to the farm, the babies are drowned. (that's what i was told).

Anyhow, I think they're Pekin ducks, but I'm unsure. They're super cute!

I need to start thinking about where I'm going to house these guys. My area doesn't allow chickens or ducks so they have to be housed where no one can see them. I have an acre of land and am pretty far from my neighbors. My lot isn't fenced yet (we just moved in). I have a large garage and one side of it is being used to house my rabbits and chickens. Ducks are much messier and need a pool so I'm trying to come up with an idea on where to keep them. It also gets very cold here (Rochester ny)

I saw someone on here has a design where it's an open bottom design so it's easier to clean. I like that Idea. I have these four and I want to add a few mallards.

I have the whole other side of my garage that I could use (just have to move the stuff out).

The empty side of the garage is right around 12ft by 18.5ft. The other side is about the same but it has rabbit cages around the permitted of the room and chickens free roaming.

Any ideas on designs that I can make using what I have?

Right now my basement would be an awesome idea since all I'd have to do is break the sump pump and we'd have a swimming pool down there but I don't think the bf would like that lol

Here are some pics of them right now.



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[Sweetfolly]

Here are a bunch of links to threads where people posted pictures of their duck pens. Hopefully you'll see something or get an idea of what will work for you!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=572483

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=363435&p=1

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=170341&p=1

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=241796

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=178796

 

[TLWR]

If any of those pekins are girls, they will quick and even with an acre of land, if you have neighbors on adjoining acres, they will hear them. I live on 6 acres and my neighbors 2 houses down on either side can hear my runners when they start quacking.


I'm going to be an optimist and say the ducks aren't being drowned when returned to the farm. And if they are, that school needs to find a new source of eggs for their hatching experiment or find another option for the ducks once hatched. Irresponsible on the school in my opinion, if those ducklings are indeed drowned when returned to the farm a few days after hatching.
If grown out and used for food, that's one thing, but just drowning them...

 

[chickengirl01]

That's what I was saying! That would be crazy if they did that. I'm hoping it's not true!

I'll have to go have a talk with my neighbors about them. I'm sure they're fine with it (hey look, free eggs). My one neighbor is awesome and friendly. My other neighbor seems nice, she's about 90, never outside, and her house just went on fire so she's not living there. Might actually be condemned. Someone on my block has a rooster though. Talk about annoying

I love it though. reminds me of where I just moved from. I also have the noise from the main street in my favor. We live on a very busy street (sounds like highway traffic) and the other street is a business access street. If any noise is annoying, it's the dam trucks :X

Also, thanks for the ideas! I was thinking about it, and I'm thinking of just making the whole 12X18 ft for them. That way, I don't have to build anything and I can just add a pond and drainage system for the pond.

Should I put certain bulbs in the garage to simulate daylight? I know they make day bulbs that are like 50 bucks a piece or so

I hear they drop eggs wherever they are. Do they use nest boxes then or no? How old until they start laying?