Duck House

[Melinda35]

Hopefully you are getting freshly hatched babies. I would leave them closed in the house for several weeks before letting them to free range all day. Your girls could take them out for an hour or two each day to play. Remember they love water. I keep my ducks' water right next to my chicken coop and they put themselves up every night with the chickens. Except when it is raining then I have to chase them in. As messes as they are I love my ducks. They have great personalities.

You and your girls did a great job with the house. I think your ducks are going to be quite happy. Mine would certainly be jealous!

 

[kuntrygirl]

Seriously? Really? You're kidding right? How much is shipping from your state to Louisiana, in addition to the price of 1 of those adorale houses? Do you have pay pal?

 

[Hollywood Chickens]

that is gorgeous!

 

[Eroc1_1]

Melinda 35 - Thank you. I wondered about keeping them in for a couple weeks like you said. I will probably send them out to the house when they reach about 8 weeks of age? I figure maybe I would try to ring a bell and then offer a 'treat' in the house at night... so maybe when they hear the bell they will come in after some free ranging all day. What do you think? HA!

 

[Melinda35]

Mine actually don't even need a treat. They just learned to go in there after a few nights on their own.

 

[Scottingitup]

Quote:
I would house them in it earlier if possible. 8 Weeks they turn into "teenagers" and get pretty skittish- at least mine did.

 

[Melinda35]

Ooops...did not read carefully!

I would put them in there from day 1 as well. Might be a little more work of cleaning out the coop more often but worth it and then let them out of the coop to free range at 8 weeks depending on size and predator issues.

 

[Captain Carrot]

What a fantastic duck house, I put me first three in a dog kennel, That's probably one of the best duck houses I've seen
I love the ventilation, can never have too much...ducks are very dirty. Good thinking on the floor tiles for inside.

Have you thought about how to get in to clean the porch, I didn't see a door on there. My ducks poop almost all the time. so you will end up with droppings on the porch.


Very nice house though well done, and I wish you luck with your ducks when you get them.


EDIT: Ok just say the hinges on the roof of the porch.

 

[Eroc1_1]

Captian Carrot - The roof of the porch has 2 set of hinges on it so I can open it up and hose it down when it gets too dirty.

Melinda35 - Yes, I will be getting day old ducklings (due to arrive 3-1-11 from Meyer Hatchery). I may have them inside the house for a couple weeks before putting them out so they can feather out a little more. The reason being, I can't keep the duck house inside the unheated garage (taking up a vehicle spot) and being in NE Ohio.....it would still be pretty chilly for them in the house even with a heat lamp. Hope that makes sense. What do you think of that plan.

 

[Melinda35]

A couple of weeks in your house should be okay. As soon as they get feathers I would put them outside in their house just so they can get used to it. I am in Texas so I don't have the cold issue. It has been freezing a few mornings the last couple of weeks but the ducks just jumped right in the water. Mine are fully grown and fully feathered.

I would put some hay in the house. They like to root around in it. You could hide some bugs in there too.

When I got ducks the last thing I thought about was eggs! That was a nice surprise. They will lay beautiful LARGE eggs. They prefer the hay for this as well. I am pretty sure mine started at the same time as the chickens. They were all hatched at the same time. I am thinking 30 - 32 weeks. They will lay early in the morning and on a daily basis.

Your girls are going to have so much fun with them!