Duck run size and preferred footing?

[TheBucktownBrood]

I used to keep Muscovy, but we free ranged them and lost most of them to Black Headed Vultures. It has been years since, and the vultures have moved on, We are finally getting ducks again, however this time we are not getting Muscovy, but Magpies, and we now want to build a new duck house and keep these contained in a run when we are not around.

I have seen the recommendations as far as coop housing goes (would still love input here though), but how big of a run do you think we would need for 6 Magpies? They would get some supervised free range time, but will mainly be in the run, so want to make sure it is big enough.

Also, I am wondering about a substrate for run to keep mud down. Would you recommend pea gravel or mulch?

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

This was just the topic of the week. Maybe you can find the answer posted?

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...ek-duck-housing.1216451/page-16#post-19469091

 

[gilbert2]

Welcome, Bucktown. I don't know how carefully you have checked this site, but specific answers to your questions have been posted many times already.
I have read that each member of the flock should have 5-6 sq ft of floor space. That is the minimum. For a run, the amount of space increases.
As to substrate, there has been a TON of discussion, if you'd care to find it. Personally, I use chopped straw, and haven't had a single case of bumblefoot in the past 6-years. Other choices are pea gravel, as you said, or sand (I think that is the choice of chickens really), to concrete, to vinyl tiles. I urge you to scan the titles of all the threads, and you will find LOTS of info.
Good luck.

 

[TheBucktownBrood]

This was just the topic of the week. Maybe you can find the answer posted?

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...ek-duck-housing.1216451/page-16#post-19469091

I did read though that, but did not see any mention of run size. Thanks.

 

[TheBucktownBrood]

Welcome, Bucktown. I don't know how carefully you have checked this site, but specific answers to your questions have been posted many times already.
I have read that each member of the flock should have 5-6 sq ft of floor space. That is the minimum. For a run, the amount of space increases.
As to substrate, there has been a TON of discussion, if you'd care to find it. Personally, I use chopped straw, and haven't had a single case of bumblefoot in the past 6-years. Other choices are pea gravel, as you said, or sand (I think that is the choice of chickens really), to concrete, to vinyl tiles. I urge you to scan the titles of all the threads, and you will find LOTS of info.
Good luck.

Thanks for the welcome. Yes, I have searched and in my post you can see I have read about the size of the house/coop, but was more interested in the size run, which there does not seem to be a rule of thumb for, at least that I have found. As far as the footing goes, I was kind of wondering what peoples personal experiences were between the two I mentioned. But I guess I will just go with the recommendations in my book by Holderread.

 

[chickens really]

For Six Birds a 10X20 Run will be fine.
I use sand over gravel as the base in the runs..Sidewalk blocks are also great.. easy to hose off in summer.

 

[TheBucktownBrood]

For Six Birds a 10X20 Run will be fine.
I use sand over gravel as the base in the runs..Sidewalk blocks are also great.. easy to hose off in summer.

Thank you!! That is super helpful Love the paver idea!

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

I thought the title said duck house size. My bad.

 

[TheBucktownBrood]

I thought the title said duck house size. My bad.

It did, it was Duck house/run size, but I edited it to prevent confusion. My original post is the same, but guess I should have left house out of the title, b/c everyone honed in on that even though the run size and footing were my main questions. Sorry for the confusion. From now on I will just search rather than try to post and have convos on here

 

[chickens really]

It did, it was Duck house/run size, but I edited it to prevent confusion. My original post is the same, but guess I should have left house out of the title, b/c everyone honed in on that even though the run size and footing were my main questions. Sorry for the confusion. From now on I will just search rather than try to post and have convos on here

Keep posting...Your fine and not everyone is nice..So reply to only the posts you like and leave the others..