Duck ramp and height of duck house

[HennyPenny44]

I’m in the middle of my duck house build and have never had ducks before so I’m not sure what’s the ideal house for my quackers. I gave the duck house legs which makes the duck door 14 inches off the ground and was wondering if it’s too high. Not sure what angle the ramp should be or its length either. Also the width of the ramp and if it needs banisters or some side supports. I only have chickens and they fly up on their ramp so I have no idea how ducks would handle a ramp. I could lower the house but I made it a bit higher to prevent rodents from trying to chew holes in the floor and to keep moisture from snow away from the house. Any advice?

 

[RebinNH]

My ducks (muscovy) do fine getting up and down from a shelf I nailed into the wall at about 22" high from the floor of their coop. They (though it technically is dominated by the drake) love their 2' x 4' perch and sometimes (in really cold weather) all three are huddled up there. The ramp has slats we nailed across for better footing (great place for poop to get caught but just part of the duck issue ). I also nailed a board at the bottom on the floor to prop the ramp onto so their weight would not cause it to slip. It's at a pretty good (steep) angle but I figured if need be I could extend it a bit (just add another board for an additional few inches across the top or bottom) and then nail that board at the bottom further out. Haven't needed to do that. The (larger) drake often flies down (for expediency?) but he also uses the ramp to get down at times.

 

[HennyPenny44]

My ducks (muscovy) do fine getting up and down from a shelf I nailed into the wall at about 22" high from the floor of their coop. They (though it technically is dominated by the drake) love their 2' x 4' perch and sometimes (in really cold weather) all three are huddled up there. The ramp has slats we nailed across for better footing (great place for poop to get caught but just part of the duck issue ). I also nailed a board at the bottom on the floor to prop the ramp onto so their weight would not cause it to slip. It's at a pretty good (steep) angle but I figured if need be I could extend it a bit (just add another board for an additional few inches across the top or bottom) and then nail that board at the bottom further out. Haven't needed to do that. The (larger) drake often flies down (for expediency?) but he also uses the ramp to get down at times.

That’s encouraging but I heard that Muscovies are the only ducks that roost and so I assume they can fly a bit. I’m going to have Welsh Harlequins. Not sure of their flying skills. I just heard that ducks can fall off ramps if not properly built.

 

[RebinNH]

Well maybe but I'm not sure what you mean by "not properly built". I think many here are do it yourselfers and so we learn as we go. We learn as our ducks instruct!

 

[HennyPenny44]

Well maybe but I'm not sure what you mean by "not properly built". I think many here are do it yourselfers and so we learn as we go. We learn as our ducks instruct!

Yes, I mean not built for what their bodies are capable of doing and their comfort. I agree the ducks will teach me.

 

[ruthhope]

@HennyPenny44

Yes, I mean not built for what their bodies are capable of doing and their comfort. I agree the ducks will teach me.

You are correct the ramps for ducks need yo be constructed differently than for chickens. I have muscovy and pekins and when it comes to the steps at the back of my house, the pekin is as agile as the muscovy for getting up and down them. All sometimes jump down the steps--actually the pekin is more agile on the downward route -- and sometimes fly down (to convince themselves they can fly, which they can't!) When it cones to ramps, i know that the ramps have to be wider than ramps for chickens, and are best to have horizontal bars/slats across to reduce slipping. The other important difference to ramps for chickens, is that ramps for ducks need to be less steep than for chickens.

I need to raise my coop and decided, mainly because of little space that I will use steps (I cant see my ducks adapting to a spiral ramp!)

 

[DukesDucks]

I also have a ramp for my Muscovy ducks and they do fine. Like others have said, mine is not too steep, has slates for footing, and is firmly in place so it can't fall when they use it. My only additional advice is to make it as wide as possible.

 

[HennyPenny44]

@HennyPenny44

You are correct the ramps for ducks need yo be constructed differently than for chickens. I have muscovy and pekins and when it comes to the steps at the back of my house, the pekin is as agile as the muscovy for getting up and down them. All sometimes jump down the steps--actually the pekin is more agile on the downward route -- and sometimes fly down (to convince themselves they can fly, which they can't!) When it cones to ramps, i know that the ramps have to be wider than ramps for chickens, and are best to have horizontal bars/slats across to reduce slipping. The other important difference to ramps for chickens, is that ramps for ducks need to be less steep than for chickens.

I need to raise my coop and decided, mainly because of little space that I will use steps (I cant see my ducks adapting to a spiral ramp!)

Interesting. So you say the steps work better than a ramp? I also don’t want a long ramp precisely because I’m limited with space in their run. Something to jog around in my head…

 

[HennyPenny44]

I also have a ramp for my Muscovy ducks and they do fine. Like others have said, mine is not too steep, has slates for footing, and is firmly in place so it can't fall when they use it. My only additional advice is to make it as wide as possible.

Thank you. Yes, I also heard they might get scared if it’s not that steady. I will keep the width in mind as well.

 

[ruthhope]

Interesting. So you say the steps work better than a ramp? I also don’t want a long ramp precisely because I’m limited with space in their run. Something to jog around in my head…

I didn't say they work better! I said my ducks have no problem with my back steps and that I am going to use steps to my duck house [as a temporary measure] as I don't have room for a long, low incline, ramp. I am raising my duck house on 3 cinderblock height wall and temporarily need the ducks to use the current door until I can make a 'made to measure' new door.