Duck Eviction Notice - But what to do???

[TajMaChicken]

I need some advice please. I recently moved my 6 Rouen Ducks, 1 Welsummer Chicken and 1 crazy "Knothead" goose into my new coop. The chicken was previously in a separate pen from the ducks and goose. They get along well enough but the ducks and goose are getting the eviction notice from the new coop. I don't have the time nor the money to completely clean out the coop every morning. They stay outside all day long and only sleep in the coop at night but still seem to make such a mess. On top of that they are slow and I battle my chicken every morning that I leave for work. She thinks she should be able to fend for herself and free range like the ducks do everyday but she is the only one left of 4 that I got last Spring due to allowing them to free range during the day and not knowing I had terrible neighbors who didn't keep their savage dog on their own property. I now have 5 new chicks who will be moving into the coop as soon as they are all feathered out and big enough to explore. I know I will not be able to corral all of the chickens and only let the ducks out in the mornings. (I doubt that excuse would work very many times with my boss when I start coming in late tracking in duck poop and smelling like a poultry farm

I work with a bunch of city people who think chickens only lay white eggs.) Sorry a little off topic.......

So the ducks are getting the boot but I don't what to do with them. We live on a lake and I thought about putting a simple shed with like 3 walls and a Roof but leaving one side open so they could get away if they needed to. We have raccoons and oppossums for sure and probably a few other critters that could get them. I want them to be safe but I don really want to constantly shovel ducky poop and be a ducky dooman. My chickens are so much easier and cleanier

So I need to hear your suggestions.

I don't know how much drive coons and opossums have to attack ducks so I am not sure how preadator proof it should be. Please share your thoughts and or pictures of your housing? Do you just leave them out all day and night or do they have a house? Do you let them out every morning? I will welcome all your comments! Thanks!

 

[Amiga]

TajMaChicken,

Take a deep breath.

Ducks are very susceptible to predators, including raccoons. Putting them near the pond will probably not help.

Where were the ducks before you moved them into the new coop?

You might find a large doghouse on Craigslist or Freecycle that could be quickly and inexpensively repurposed.

Can the new coop be retrofitted with a half inch hardware cloth bottom (even a raised floor) so that cleaning just involves a quick scrape-out of mess?

I can appreciate the oppression of the duck mess. I love my ducklings and have made the right decision to have them. At the same time, I call myself their charwoman, the one who does all the dirty work. My (paid) work schedule is light and flexible, so this is not a big deal right now. I often wonder how full time outside the home workers do it.

Perhaps some of this can give you an idea that will work for you.

Can you hire someone to do the morning cleanup, or if money is the problem as you indicate it is, trade services with someone? I am surprised at how often I can work out a trade with a neighbor for pet care or other services.

I appreciate your side comment about some others' level of comprehension about eggs.

 

[TajMaChicken]

I am thinking maybe a duck shed with dirt or sand floor near the chicken coop so I can let them out easily in the morning and lock them up at night as I do now but just take the water hose to the floor as needed. Any other ideas???

 

[10ducks]

I have had good results from putting wood pellets on the floor of my duck coop. It's much less smelly and messy than when I was using straw. The pellets are sold as horse bedding; my feed store has a brand called "Guardian Horse Pellets." The directions say that you are supposed to open the bags and put in a few gallons of water, to expand the pellets into something like shavings. I did that with the first couple of bags, to get a fluffy layer over the whole floor. Then I started just pouring in plain pellets in the wet areas. They gradually absorb moisture from the poop and expand.
Here's a link to the type they sell at TSC: http://www.tractorsupply.com/equine-fresh-trade-pelletized-bedding-for-horses-40-lbs--2181006
I've also been thinking about trying sand sometime, but haven't done it yet. Good luck!