Duck Housing Requirements

[Philosoraptor]

I've recently acquired ten pullets, who are happily settling in to their 5 x 8 coop, and 5 x 8 enclosed run, and I guess I caught the "bird bug" because a friend offered me a chance to get some ducks and I jumped on it- they arrive July 1. Two baby boys and three baby girls of an assortment of breeds.

I'll be building them their own coop/run/pool, but I was wondering what kind of size/height/material/etc requirements duck habitations have versus chickens. I know several people who have chickens and ducks that live together, and I would love for all of my birds to be able to play together. I was thinking separate coop/runs that can be attached or separated so they can all play together in one big extended double coop/run combo, or I can have them separate if need be or at night for instance.

Another big question was that of the pond/free ranging. I intend on giving them a pond in their enclosure so they will always have access, but not too far from where they live is a small natural pond (think roughly the size of your average in ground swimming pool, maybe a bit bigger depending on the time of year and rain fall). I would love it if they were able to go swim in their too, but it is far too big and in the woods a few feet to reasonably fence it in. The chickens, when they're bigger, are going to be allowed to free range around the property when someone is home... I've heard a lot about ducks free ranging more safely than chickens because they can fly. Thoughts?

Thanks a ton!

 

[ChickenToes]

It's best if ducks and chickens are kept separately. Ducks are extremely messy, and really should be kept separate from other birds.

You can house them in a regular coop. However, because they don't roost, you can build them something that looks like a large doghouse - something that's 4 or 5 feet tall. As ducks like to lay eggs in different areas all the time, they don't need nesting boxes. I just throw a pile of hay in the corner.

Free ranging is fine, but you should put them in the coop at night. Keep in mind that not every duck can fly - only Mallards and Muscovies.

Good luck!

 

[Wifezilla]

I have one of these http://www.agway.com/catalog/pet/kennels_houses_and_carriers/houses/dogloo_ii_extra_large for 6 ducks inside of a covered pen. I left off the bottom of the igloo and I use deep litter all over the pen floor (pine shavings).

The pen is not that big because my ducks free range in the back yard with a 6' tall fence around it during the day. There is room for the igloo, their feed container, a water bucket, and some roaming room. My Indian Runner always lays her eggs in the back of the igloo.

For swimming there is a 500 gallon pond in my yard and they play in that all the time. For a suburban lot, 6 ducks is my max. I still have lawn, the ducks are happy, and the mess is manageable.

I am in the process of giving their pen a security upgrade. The person I split an order of ducks with just lost his welsh harlequin girls to some sort of predator. Even though I am in suburbia, we have skunks, foxes, hawks and stray dogs to contend with. I recently found a squirrel in my duck's pen stealing their food...so there is that issue too

The night pen needs to be predator proof unless you want your ducks to be tasty snacks.