Duck House

[aaronburton87]

Hello, I'm new to raising ducks, and I'm doing it this summer as my senior project.

I was looking at building a duckhouse, but I will be getting 7 cayugas, 3 golden hybrid layers, and 2 buff geese. Rather than spending up to $1,000 on a barn, I was wondering if a Garage-in-a-box would be suitable. The dimensions are 10ft*15ft (height is 8 ft).
They will only be in there at night by and will be free to roam about the yard or the duck house during the day as they please.

The house will be in the no-go zone, inside of 4 foot fence with poultry wire dug two feet into the ground (pre-existing). The osutside if the fence runs live electrical wire.

From what i have read, 150 square feet is well above the minimum, but I'd like a second opinion.

 

[ChickInDelight]

The garage in a box won't provide predator protection.

Ducks don't need much shelter, but they do need protection. If your fencing provides protection, then no worries. Ducks sleep on the ground, and you really just need some wind / rain / weather protection.

They need TONS of ventilation.

If your fence provides predator protection, you could literally build the house out of straw bales and tarps - and it would be quite cozy.

 

[Amiga]

I strongly recommend you read the housing chapter of Storey's Guide to Raising Ducks.

Predators are determined and they have all night and all day to crack the defenses.

Sometimes a one inch gap is all they need. So please think like a predator.

Owls will come in from above, and sometimes hawks. Raccoons can climb and reach through one-inch gaps and pull the duck or duckling out piece by piece. Some animals dig under the fence.

I would also ask @Miss Lydia about housing ducks and geese.

 

[aaronburton87]

Therebis chicken wire dug 2 feey into the grown to prevent digging. I live in an urban neighborhood, no owls or hawks have ever been documented in it. The ducks won't live in there until they are 6 weeks old.
Introducing them to the outdoors will be done in a chicken tractor