Ducks being stubborn or is it me??

[Duathman]

I'm no expert, just going off of initial reaction to the photos- So just consider this a suggestion-
Perhaps a more secure sleeping arrangement? Something to protect them more from the elements, and make them feel secure. They're likely pretty safe in the dog kennel, but they probably don't *feel* very safe at night... A duck house/converted dog kennel might be better for them, you would have to allow for ventilation though since ducks are good at making everything wet! It would act as a place to feel safe in, and they may be more relaxed to lay their eggs, since stress would likely be a factor.
Also might just be worth asking, what calcium supplements are you using? Oyster shell, or?

The guy at Tractor Supply said the Purina Duck food was enough. Do I need to supplement with calcium? I currently do not. Also, was thinking of putting a tarp all the way around the crate to make enclosed. Thoughts?

 

[BabyGotQuack]

The guy at Tractor Supply said the Purina Duck food was enough. Do I need to supplement with calcium? I currently do not.

Not sure on the feed/calcium. I never can get duck feed, if I available I use all flock and when that’s out just chicken feed but I always add oyster shell to their feed.

Also, was thinking of putting a tarp all the way around the crate to make enclosed. Thoughts?

You’re talking the little dog crate right? Not the whole entire kennel? I think for a temporary that would be fine but not so much permanent, just my opinion.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I could never let my ducks/ chickens/ goose outside of their fencing without me watching them. Dogs and other predators are just waiting for a chance to snatch and run off with our beloved birds. I choose not to take that chance.

 

[addctd2plnts]

Ducks love to feel secure at night and they are very nervous being out in the open. To make them feel secure a dog house, but with lots of ventilation up high, covered with 1/2 hardware cloth, not chicken wire, is important (over the ventilation spots on the dog house). I don't use the Purina feed but Mazuri Waterfowl Layer feed is the best money can buy IMHO. You also need to either add a Oyster Shells to feed or provide a second bowl of them so they can eat as needed. For treats, Black Soldier Fly Larvae is much higher in nutrition than mealworms. They look expensive when you buy a box on Chewy but they are so light weight that the box lasts a really long time.

I would strongly encourage you to get 1/2 inch hardware cloth for the bottom section of the pen. I have the same pen and it takes less than 5 minutes for a dog or predator to get though chicken wire. It only keeps the birds IN, but doesn't protect them against anything getting in that wants to kill them. Maybe I'm super sensitive right now because we came out to move ducks in an hour before dark yesterday and caught a fox about 15 ft from my duck pen. LOL Today I ordered electric fencing to fence off the whole area because I want to have my elevated Call Duck cages out thee and don't want them harassed nightly or it will affect egg production and viability.

 

[ruthhope]

I think we may be using different language

Several of us are referring to your run -- which is what I would call the tall framed chicken wire enclosure with sloping roof and tarp. Is that what you are referring to as "I bought a fully reinforced "fortress" enclosed coup"?

If that is their coop, I think it is too open and exposed. My coop is constructed with reinforced chicken wire attached to metal rods, but I have a tarp that covers all of that. It is permanently over and stays down one side. But in the warmer drier months [that would be from now in normal years but this is not normal and is too wet] I double the tarp on one side, back on itself to let light and air in. Both ends, including the door end, are made from wood. If I had the moula to buy yours, I would add a white tarp down the roof and opposite side from the existing tarp, and also add a tarp on the far end, just leaving the front with door open. You might need the front side tarping in the winter if it is freezing.

I use old chest drawers for nesting boxes. One for each of the ducks. Often, there are three eggs in 1 nesting box; today there were two eggs and one little girl had obliged by laying in another box. These ducks are happy to nap in individual nesting boxes during the day, but it seems that for them egg laying is a communal activity! I just mention the drawers as a cheap option -- I collected mine from the side of the road before my neighborhood trash collection.

What is the dog crate for inside your enclosure? Is the live trap an indication that you have raccoons coming round? There is a security problem with your enclosure in that it appears that a raccoon could dig down and get under the sides and into the coop. Raccoons do that sort of thing and have tried it on my son's coop. My son's coop has hardware cloth under the full area firmly attached to the foundation of the walls, to keep raccoons out. As far as we know the raccoon has not been back since failing to get inside.

As several others have written, it looks a little on the small side as a run -- but if you don't get more ducks and they are happy healthy and enjoying life, they are safer in your run than out free ranging and getting eaten by a hawk. It's a good sized over night coop.

My last suggestion is that you do change their food. I use Purina duck food for my flock of drakes and they are happy and healthy

But for the female flock that are laying, we use layer feed which has additional calcium and, I think, protein. We cannot currently get organic duck layer feed -- which is what my son prefers -- at our local Tractor Supplies, and so they are currently eating chicken layer feed, to which we add a tablespoon of brewer's yeast per cup of granules. The link is to the best value source of brewers' yeast we have found.

https://smile.amazon.com/Brewers-Ye...dfc01&pd_rd_wg=fQuz3&pd_rd_i=B00JJV3DA0&psc=1

Good luck with your ducks -- they will start laying as they settle into their new home!

 

[Duathman]

I'm no expert, just going off of initial reaction to the photos- So just consider this a suggestion-
Perhaps a more secure sleeping arrangement? Something to protect them more from the elements, and make them feel secure. They're likely pretty safe in the dog kennel, but they probably don't *feel* very safe at night... A duck house/converted dog kennel might be better for them, you would have to allow for ventilation though since ducks are good at making everything wet! It would act as a place to feel safe in, and they may be more relaxed to lay their eggs, since stress would likely be a factor.
Also might just be worth asking, what calcium supplements are you using? Oyster shell, or?

I added Crushed Oyster shell yesterday, 3/20. The Purina Duck food has a max 1.25% calcium and I read they need at least 3%. Now they are on crushed oyster shells and Purina duck food for their nutrition. Also, this Wednesday I plan on adding a huge tarp to cover the top, back and left side (looking at the photo). Also will add an extension to the cage approx 32SF to the right side hopefully giving them more room to roam around.

 

[BabyGotQuack]

I added Crushed Oyster shell yesterday, 3/20. The Purina Duck food has a max 1.25% calcium and I read they need at least 3%. Now they are on crushed oyster shells and Purina duck food for their nutrition. Also, this Wednesday I plan on adding a huge tarp to cover the top, back and left side (looking at the photo). Also will add an extension to the cage approx 32SF to the right side hopefully giving them more room to roam around.

Sounds awesome! I think those are all great improvements.

 

[Aunt Angus]

Mine prefer dark hidey-holes to nest in. Maybe the open-ness of the pen is part of the problem? Perhaps a cover over the crate. This plastic bin from Walmart was an instant hit (but a bit pricy at $10 each.) View attachment 3027824

My ducks LOVE these! Easy to clean, too. Best duckie nests!

 

[Aunt Angus]

Sounds like you're making good improvements! My ducks share a coop with my chickens (despite having a great duckie house to themselves). They also gave a covered run, like yours - a kennel. They also have a fenced area for foraging that is covered. I use electric poultry netting with aviary netting over the top. I also let them out on the farm when I can supervise (waaaaay too many predators here).

Update with pics as you go. We can offer more advice and the info will be helpful for others!

Adorable flock!

 

[Duathman]

My ducks LOVE these! Easy to clean, too. Best duckie nests!

Can you please provide a link to where I can buy these?