Duck fencing question

[HenHouse4Life]

Ok duck friends, I need your advice. We're getting ready to build a duck house and enclosure. For our chicken coop we used 1/2" x 1/2" hardware cloth fencing. I have seen online that for ducks some people opt for the 2" x 4" welded fencing. Which is more ideal for ducks? Our enclosure will be roofed, not fenced on the top. Our area predators are coons, hawks, Fox mostly. Our ducks are 2 pekin ducks. Thanks!

 

[fourkidsandduck]

It really depends on the ducks. I have Muscovies with big claws and they try to climb the fence when you approach them. With that said, I would say the stronger the better. Pekin won't do that as much so I would be willing to bet you can use the cloth. It all comes down to how safe and secure you want it. I would personally use the stronger of the two.

 

[cymbaline]

For nearly 4 years, I have had 1/2" hardware cloth over the top, sides, and as an underground "apron" on my pen and my ducks are fine. They are never locked up in a coop, they just roam the pen freely until free-range time in the yard.
This is a shot of it just after I finished expanding it last summer - it's 12' x 24'.

 

[HenHouse4Life]

Thank you for your responses! I'll post pics when we complete our project!

 

[Amiga]

And, because this has happened, just making sure you are talking about metal hardware cloth - because some stores sell plastic "hardware cloth" that raccoons can rip right through.

 

[HenHouse4Life]

And, because this has happened, just making sure you are talking about metal hardware cloth - because some stores sell plastic "hardware cloth" that raccoons can rip right through.

Yes, metal hardware cloth. Fencing.

 

[cayugaducklady]

We used hurricane fence for the base and hardware cloth on the sides and to make aground apron. Make sure you thoroughly cover any gaps near the door or hinges. All it takes is one curious duck and a desperate predator to have a disaster.

I would suggest adding a layer of lower cost welded fence for the top. You'll need something to keep the flying predators out and aviary netting wont be strong enough.

I have the gambit of bears to hawks and owls. Right now i've got a cooper's hawk that is camping on tree branches to sun in the early mornings. We don't have leaves on our trees yet and those branches overlook my duck pen. If we hadn't covered the top it would have had duck breakfast 3 times over. It definitely isn't intimidated by me either because it knows I can't get to it when it's 60 feet off the ground.

 

[HenHouse4Life]

We used hurricane fence  for the base and hardware cloth on the  sides and to make aground apron.  Make sure you thoroughly cover  any  gaps near the door or hinges.  All it takes is one curious duck and a desperate predator to have a disaster.

I would suggest adding a layer of lower cost welded fence for the top. You'll need something to keep the flying predators out and aviary netting wont be strong enough.

I have the gambit of bears to  hawks and owls.  Right now i've got a cooper's hawk that is camping on  tree branches to sun in the early mornings. We don't have leaves on our trees yet and those branches overlook my duck pen.  If we hadn't covered the top it would have had duck breakfast 3 times over.  It definitely isn't intimidated by me either because it knows I can't get to it when it's 60 feet off the ground.

Our roof will be shingled and completely covered. We're using fencing on the sides and on the bottom. Thanks for your advice!