Duck house must haves.

[emjay]

We are building a duck house today.

couple questions.

how big should their "lock up" area be ?? as they will be locked up at night for safety.

sq. footage rule.

should they have access to tub of water in lock up area for splashing , or just have that pool/tub in the run.

should they just have their food and water (drinking) in their lockup area.


and nest boxes, raised up? how high or flat on ground

and straw or hay as bedding?

should their coop also be raised off the ground?

any other tips, would be lovely. I want to do it fairly correct the first time around.

thanks.

 

[katharinad]

You did not mention how may ducks. Inside I would use 1-1.5 sq feet per duck. I have 9 and they are in 10x10. That gives enough space for nesting boxes and feeding station. I use a dog waterer and a food bowl on a tray. My coop is floor level with concrete pavers covered with rubber mats and I sprinkle pine shavings on top. I clean daily and have no flies or ammonia smell, which would irritate their lungs and eyes. Duck nesting boxes should be ground level. No swimming in the duck house, just outside. If the house is raised the water could cause rotting in the plywood flooring. I did build an immediate outside pen for secure lock up. This should be about 3 sq ft per duck. This pen is only used short term since they have a large fenced in free range area. Here are some pics:

And for swimming fun. Kiddie pools with decks and stairs, and drainage valve.

 

[emjay]

thankyou very much.

very helpful.

THANKS.

 

[Whispering Winds]

Explain that drain valve. Are they hard to install, or is there a chance the pool will crack when installing? I LOVE your set-up, and the ducks are just so cute. What kind are they? Beautiful.

 

[katharinad]

All you need is a utility knife, they are really easy to cut.
Here are the parts:

3/4" x 1" PVC Male Adapter @ $0.77

3/4" Threated PVC Ball Valve @ $3.17

Two #11 O-Rings (3/4") @ 1.97 for 10 pieces

All pieces are available at Home Depot or other hardware stores. Make sure to cut your hole as tight as possible. Put the Male Adapter with an o-ring inside of the pool, add another o-ring outside and screw on the ball valve. No glue needed. Really simple.

You can also buy a hose adapter, which you can screw into the outer part of the ball valve. This enables you to connect a garden hose to it, so you can have the dirty water discharge anywhere in the garden.

3/4 In. x 3/4 In. MPT x MHT (Male Hose Thread) PVC Hose Thread Adapter @ $0.99

The prices given are from Home Depot. They do not include sales taxes. Take this list with you to the hardware store and have someone help you. Make sure they all screw together before you leave.

Remember to fill up your pool once and then mark the location. The pools have the tendency to pull down a little bit. Do not put it in first and then fill the pool only to find out that you are too low and the valve gets pushed up.

 

[katharinad]

PM me with your email address, if you need drawing for building the decks with stairs. I have them for the medium and large kiddie pools found at Walmart. Really simple to make.

 

[TLWR]

I'm going to tag on to this thread since I was going to start one today so we can get what we need to build/buy something for the ducks.


3 indian runners (maybe 5 total eventually)
Here's a purchase option for a duck house - http://www.walmart.com/ip/ASPCA-Suncast-Deluxe-Dog-House-Dogs/10449973

some build potentials
I like this one (came off the coops page)

DH likes this one (which may have also been found on the coops page here)

I want the floor to be easy to clean, so if we raise it up, we'll probably use PT deck boards. Maybe up the walls too since I didn't find great options that would easily hold up to daily hosing down - which is why the vinyl dog house is appealing... easy hosing.

How steep of a ramp can ducks do if we raised it up like the first coop design - maybe not that high, but still raised?
Anybody have suggestions for materials for the sides that can be easily hosed and not cost an arm and a leg if we end up building something?

If we build it closer to the ground, I can just use concrete blocks as a floor.


We are also planning on a fenced area around the duck hut as added protection when they can't be in the yard, but need to be confined, or if we leave for a day and need to pen them up.
How far down do I need to dig and fence to predator proof?
I've also read that rocks around the fence and prevent digging - how far out would that need to go? I'm thinking putting chicken wire down and more of a rough rock instead of pea stone around it?

 

[cracking up]

Mine are really only away at night so I don't give them any food or water in the night pen. It was just too messy. They are in a hurry to get out in the morning but they are usually out by 7:30 and they're all happy and healthy.