Duck house / run

[Here come the ducks]

Hi everyone- I just posted this on the chicken post ... and it’s way recommended that I ask this thread as well!
So I am getting five little ducklings next month- first time ever!!

I am having a duck coup/ house built - and it will have solid roof with shingles over the coup and run ... coup 8x6, and run 8x 16- with an additional run with only hardware cloth on top ... then someone told me not to do any part without a hard roof... what do you all think ??

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Hard roof is best. Less chance for predators and it will help the run stay slightly dryer and warmer.

 

[Here come the ducks]

X

Hard roof is best. Less chance for predators and it will help the run stay slightly dryer and warmer.

ok! Thank you... but don’t they need some full sun?

 

[JacinLarkwell]

They will still get sun when it's rising and setting. My coops and runs all have solid roofs and my birds do fine

 

[21hens-incharge]

Some sun will sneak in from the sides.

My run is big so sun does not reach all areas but does shine in through the sides. I do like having the pouring rain blocked and not shoveling snow.

I like having the sun hit the run for drying and well.....deoderizing.

My birds often seek the sunny spots.

No harm in having a section that stays sunny.

 

[Here come the ducks]

X

ok! Thank you... but don’t they need some full sun?

Boy thank you sooo much !
Next question... I’m a bit obsessed and fearful about the predator issue... so... I am doing the hardware wire -down and the apron and then adding 24x24 concrete slabs on top of the apron... that should keep anything out right ? Hardware wire for pen is 1/2 x1/2 PVC coated welded wire .
And the run will be 8x 18, house 8x 6 for 5 ducks ... does that sound like enough ??

 

[Here come the ducks]

Some sun will sneak in from the sides.

My run is big so sun does not reach all areas but does shine in through the sides. I do like having the pouring rain blocked and not shoveling snow.

I like having the sun hit the run for drying and well.....deoderizing.

My birds often seek the he sunny spots.

No harm in having a section that stays sunny.

Thank you all!! I really appreciate the words of wisdom!!

 

[21hens-incharge]

My set up for ducks is new.....but I have kept chickens for a long time.

My duck house is 5x8 for 7 birds and their run space.....it is evolving as I downsize my chicken population. It will eventually be 16x23 minus a tiny bit where their house sticks into it.

 

[Here come the ducks]

My set up for ducks is new.....but I have kept chickens for a long time.

My duck house is 5x8 for 7 birds and their run space.....it is evolving as I downsize my chicken population. It will eventually be 16x23 minus a tiny bit where their house sticks into it.

Wow- that is huge !!!! I hope my will be good to start !!
Maybe I’ll add another 64 sq feet! Sounds like yours is nice and big!!!
Sounds lovely !!

Boy thank you sooo much !
Next question... I’m a bit obsessed and fearful about the predator issue... so... I am doing the hardware wire -down and the apron and then adding 24x24 concrete slabs on top of the apron... that should keep anything out right ? Hardware wire for pen is 1/2 x1/2 PVC coated welded wire .
And the run will be 8x 18, house 8x 6 for 5 ducks ... does that sound like enough ??

Boy thank you sooo much !
Next question... I’m a bit obsessed and fearful about the predator issue... so... I am doing the hardware wire -down and the apron and then adding 24x24 concrete slabs on top of the apron... that should keep anything out right ? Hardware wire for pen

My set up for ducks is new.....but I have kept chickens for a long time.

My duck house is 5x8 for 7 birds and their run space.....it is evolving as I downsize my chicken population. It will eventually be 16x23 minus a tiny bit where their house sticks into it.

is 1/2 x1/2 PVC coated welded wire .
And the run will be 8x 18, house 8x 6 for 5 ducks ... does that sound like enough ??

My set up for ducks is new.....but I have kept chickens for a long time.

My duck house is 5x8 for 7 birds and their run space.....it is evolving as I downsize my chicken population. It will eventually be 16x23 minus a tiny bit where their house sticks into it.

My set up for ducks is new.....but I have kept chickens for a long time.

My duck house is 5x8 for 7 birds and their run space.....it is evolving as I downsize my chicken population. It will eventually be 16x23 minus a tiny bit where their house sticks into it.

 

[3bird]

We keep six large breed ducks at the moment, and our duckhouse is 4'x8' with an attached 12'x8' run. The duckhouse is elevated, so we in essence gave a 16'x8' run, but we have the area under the dudkhouse set-up so that it can be closed off in case we need to keep a bird separate from the rest of the flock. Our entire run is covered with a shingle roof, and I would not want it any other way. In the winter, we put 6mm plastic over three sides (leaving the southeast side open). We use a 2' predator apron around the run, and it has worked great.