Duck 'n goose house advice

[Ruralhideaway]

So I've searched, no real luck on exactly what I need.

I'm adding a house to my set up. The waterfowl will have a small run of their own plus access to a winter covered run and other run space to share wth the chickens.

I want to house up to 5 geese and 8 small ducks. Basically just sleeping space. If I understand ducks and geese correctly they will likely choose to sleep outside mostly anyway(mine always did with the barn open for them) so I'll make their small dedicated section of the run night predator safe and with added drainage.

How much sleeping house space do I need for this arrangement? Is a low(48" high) shed off the barn wall enough? Say 36" deep 11ft wide. Divided. But with a front and doors that can be closed to block wind during winter storms at night. Possibly hinge the whole front to lift and hook back during summer?

Hopefully that made sense.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I actually had 4 geese my older pair and their goslings but when the goslings grew up the 4 became like a gang of hoodlums they would gang up on the chickens and some of the ducks too. Finally I had to make the hard decision to rehome the younger pair, things improved a lot although breeding season just started here for the geese and boy do they have attitude. Soon my Muscovy's will be in breeding season that is when the fun begins with my drake and gander There is no way my geese and ducks and chickens could be penned together. The smaller birds need to be able to steer clear of the geese.

 

[MagpieDucks]

You might get some ideas here. https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/topic-of-the-week-duck-housing.1216451/

 

[Ruralhideaway]

I've read through. Seems less hard fast rules for these guys than for chickens.

 

[PirateGirl]

My understanding has been roughly 4 square feet per duck (calls maybe less due to size) and 6 square feet per goose. If it's mostly just for sleeping then you can get away with less, but only maybe a foot less per bird. There may be times when every single bird is in there, so you must take that into consideration. I think most of the time a 3 sided structure is totally adequate. Since your opening will be on the long side (if I understand correctly), I'd make it so half can be closed as a good wind block on colder days, and then the full thing can be closed as needed at night or really nasty weather. Don't forget vents if the whole thing is closed up! My ducks have a 3 sided structure (lock up the 4th wall at night) and they go in and out all day. Sometimes they sleep inside in the straw, sometimes outside in the snow, but it's usually all or nothing, they do it together, so if one goes in the house, they all go in the house.

 

[PirateGirl]

Considering you are going with small geese and small ducks I think you will be fine. You can always expand if you have problems down the line. It sounds like they have plenty of space by day too, which is great.

 

[bekkanblue]

Geese less messy than ducks...?
Nope!
Just my humble opinion. When given similar opportunity my geese delight in being pound for pound as messy as any of the ducks.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I can say with experience geese and ducks don't sleep well together during breeding season. My gander[Embden] and drake[Muscovy] will fight, so although everyone is fenced during the day together 1/2 acre the geese and ducks have separate housing for night. Geese are very temperamental during breeding season.

 

[Ruralhideaway]

I can say with experience geese and ducks don't sleep well together during breeding season. My gander[Embden] and drake[Muscovy] will fight, so although everyone is fenced during the day together 1/2 acre the geese and ducks have separate housing for night. Geese are very temperamental during breeding season.

That actually rings a bell. I have a funny story about their mating behavior I'll share one day. But I do remember my Africans getting edgy with visitors vs their usual steer clear system.

I'd planned to divide their house but not necessarily their dedicated 24 hr run. This might be worth revisiting, thanks!

 

[Ruralhideaway]

Oh thank you so much, I have my heart set on call ducks as well so the size difference will be great.

My upcoming run expansion will have many gates and flexibility so I can prepare for this.