First winter for Arboc

[Miss Lydia]

Ok, thanks everybody, you were all helpful and I appreciate it a whole lot.

When you get something built post pics because it may inspire someone else who is looking for ways to house their duck/ducks.

 

[Rememberthedeer]

Ok, will do

 

[Rememberthedeer]

Ok, so I finished the pen for him, my dad was busy this week so he couldn't help me make it, but he at least cut the wood for me so that I can do the rest. I'll try to post pics later on today if anyone wants to see.

 

[veronicasmom]

I would make sure he has some clean bathing water in at least a large pan several times a week throughout the winter. Just bring out some very warm water to mix with the cold water, it should stay thawed long enough for him to clean up. Keeping a thawed drinking bowl is VERY important. If you can get a heated dog bowl, they work great in the winter. Pekins are hardy ducks and as long as he has enough food (a small amount of cracked corn in the winter is a good addition to his feed, and there are other things you can feed in the winter too. Look around this site for suggestions), unfrozen water and a dry place to stay, he should be fine. Would you ever consider getting him a couple of girl duck friends?

 

[Rememberthedeer]

This is his bed-pen. It used to just be a large wire cage, but I boarded up one end with wood and covered it with plastic for protection. This is where he says during the night.
I have it right next to the dog kennel (Where he stays during the day). During the night, the dog will scare away any predators that might wander too close, providing protection for the duck. That large white square thing in the dog kennel is the duck pond in case anyone was wondering.
On the inside, I have a card board box (I have bricks underneath it for support) in the corner of the pen that is surrounded by the wood. I plan on replacing it with a wood box in the future, but I am temporarily out of lumber at the moment. Inside the box I have some fresh hay and lawn clippings for him to sleep in. The top of the cage is a large, heavy slat of wood that will keep snow out and off the box. It doesn't have a latch door, but at night I place heavy rocks on top to so that it's too heavy for raccoons to lift, in case they ever get pass the dog. During the night he has food and a jug of water deep enough to submerge his head. (You can see the jug of water in the first picture)
He is currently still on starter feed just because I have a lot left over from when he was a duckling, but as soon as that is out I'm going to move him to corn. He also eats a lot of worms and beans, his two favorite snacks.
Every spring, my local feed store gets large shipments of chicks, ducklings, and goslings, that's how I got him and next spring I'm going to try and get some females for him. =)

 

[Miss Lydia]

This is his bed-pen. It used to just be a large wire cage, but I boarded up one end with wood and covered it with plastic for protection. This is where he says during the night.
I have it right next to the dog kennel (Where he stays during the day). During the night, the dog will scare away any predators that might wander too close, providing protection for the duck. That large white square thing in the dog kennel is the duck pond in case anyone was wondering.
On the inside, I have a card board box (I have bricks underneath it for support) in the corner of the pen that is surrounded by the wood. I plan on replacing it with a wood box in the future, but I am temporarily out of lumber at the moment. Inside the box I have some fresh hay and lawn clippings for him to sleep in. The top of the cage is a large, heavy slat of wood that will keep snow out and off the box. It doesn't have a latch door, but at night I place heavy rocks on top to so that it's too heavy for raccoons to lift, in case they ever get pass the dog. During the night he has food and a jug of water deep enough to submerge his head. (You can see the jug of water in the first picture)
He is currently still on starter feed just because I have a lot left over from when he was a duckling, but as soon as that is out I'm going to move him to corn. He also eats a lot of worms and beans, his two favorite snacks.
Every spring, my local feed store gets large shipments of chicks, ducklings, and goslings, that's how I got him and next spring I'm going to try and get some females for him. =)

Looks good, I'm sure he appreciates having his own space, I hope you can get him a box built before the snow flies it will go along way to keep him toasty. and Corn isn't a whole nutrient rich diet for ducks, he should be feed either and All flock or grower finisher with a small amount of corn around 10%.

 

[Rememberthedeer]

Thanks. Yeah I'm still on the hunt for wood, sometime this week I'm going to run over to the neighbors and see if they have any scrap wood left over from the rabbit caged they built.
Thanks for the feed advice, I'll look into that.