Have to build new duck accommodations fast

[Floof]

I think that pallets will probably be your best option. Screw them together and use lots of hardware cloth. If you took your other house apart you'd probably have more materials you could put to good use too like those windows!

That house you have not does not look big enough to house 21 ducks so you might want to think about making it a lot bigger anyway with divisions in it to separate the drakes from the ducks.

The one they are currently in is 8x8 but the rational is that I won't be keeping most of the drakes. I got 5 breeds and only plan to keep 1 drake from each. So far it's sounding like I only have 1 hen from 4 of my breeds so there are going to be a lot of drakes in the freezer....

 

[Floof]

You could buy one of those portable electric mesh fences. That will keep the preds out then a simple hoop house like your building a low tunnel out of pvc. Take two hours to build.

I really like this idea! They look so easy! I've never worked with any kind of electric fence (other than my husband telling me not to touch the neighbors' at the property line). Would you have any advice there? Would I put the electric mesh fence over a cattle panel style hoop house and call it good? Does it still need to be wrapped in hardware cloth? Does the electric mesh make the metal from the cattle panel electrified too? Sorry, I'm sure these are stupid questions but I really appreciate you taking the time to educate me!

 

[NatJ]

You could get a dog kennel--one with either chain link or large-size wire mesh.

Lots of kennels come apart into flat panels, so you can take it apart and move it as often as needed. I'm thinking of the ones that are 8 feet or 10 feet square, or you can add more panels to make them bigger yet. A single panel is awkwardly large, but I think most adults can manage to handle one panel alone. Just move it piece by piece, if you don't have a helper.

A "dog kennel" should be dog proof, and might even slow down a bear.

Use either wire mesh, or more of the same panels to make a top, then add a tarp to keep rain and sun out.

To keep things from reaching through the large mesh, put hardware cloth over the bottom part of each panel. If you put the hardware cloth on the inside and attach it with zip ties, I think that will be secure enough.

I don't know where you live, but I am assuming that it's summer right now, so a tarp on the roof and maybe a tarp on one side should be enough shelter for the next few months.

You can buy dog kennels from various stores, but you can also find them on craigslist sometimes. And they're just handy to have around for temporary and portable pens

 

[Floof]

You could get a dog kennel--one with either chain link or large-size wire mesh.

Lots of kennels come apart into flat panels, so you can take it apart and move it as often as needed. I'm thinking of the ones that are 8 feet or 10 feet square, or you can add more panels to make them bigger yet. A single panel is awkwardly large, but I think most adults can manage to handle one panel alone. Just move it piece by piece, if you don't have a helper.

A "dog kennel" should be dog proof, and might even slow down a bear.

Use either wire mesh, or more of the same panels to make a top, then add a tarp to keep rain and sun out.

To keep things from reaching through the large mesh, put hardware cloth over the bottom part of each panel. If you put the hardware cloth on the inside and attach it with zip ties, I think that will be secure enough.

I don't know where you live, but I am assuming that it's summer right now, so a tarp on the roof and maybe a tarp on one side should be enough shelter for the next few months.

You can buy dog kennels from various stores, but you can also find them on craigslist sometimes. And they're just handy to have around for temporary and portable pens

From a quick look online those are pretty expensive. I don't know that I can swing that kind of expense.

 

[NatJ]

From a quick look online those are pretty expensive. I don't know that I can swing that kind of expense.

That is the major disadvantage, if you have to buy them new

Sometimes they turn up used, on craigslist or something. Or occasionally there might be one in the feedstore that's marked down because it was a display model or because it's been damaged. And some people just have one already sitting idle, but obviously you don't.

 

[Floof]

To top things off I do not have a truck. I rented a truck to get the materials for my current duck house. It's feeling like a lot of money wasted right now. If I have to buy even more materials I think I need to make sure they will fit in my car. $100 may not seem like a lot to most people but it's an expense that makes a noticable difference in our house. Does anyone have any idea if the original picture I posted would be suitable for my needs? I think those materials all fit in my car if I get them precut at home depot.

 

[NatJ]

Does anyone have any idea if the original picture I posted would be suitable for my needs? I think those materials all fit in my car if I get them precut at home depot.

Maybe? I'm not a duck person, but it looks fairly predator proof.

Be careful of door locks/latches, so nothing can open it; and you may want to fence around the bottom legs to keep animals from getting underneath. I know a dog can do quite a bit of damage to rabbits' feet, right through the floor wire, so I would worry about coyotes + ducks with a wire floor.

 

[21hens-incharge]

To top things off I do not have a truck. I rented a truck to get the materials for my current duck house. It's feeling like a lot of money wasted right now. If I have to buy even more materials I think I need to make sure they will fit in my car. $100 may not seem like a lot to most people but it's an expense that makes a noticable difference in our house. Does anyone have any idea if the original picture I posted would be suitable for my needs? I think those materials all fit in my car if I get them precut at home depot.

I would say no....not as shown....but.....

Materials to make a structure for animal entry (in this case ducka) at ground level can be cut down to fit in a car.

Housing 21 ducks will require quite a large structure......yes even if it is temporary.
Add to that the fact it may need moved...repeatedly....that means it needs to be either designed to come apart and go back together easily or it needs to be very sturdy to handle being drug.

Maybe multiple chicken tractors......

I would definitely use electric portable fence around the area these are in.
With that design.....for ducks I would not build a raised house but close in the low end....less materials and better for ducks. 2x2 pieces across from side to side would allow a tarp instead of expensive difficult to haul or cut metal roofing.

Remember....I am looking at TEMPORARY emergency housing. I don't recommend using a tarp as a roof on a long term structure.

 

[Ratchnick]

I really like this idea! They look so easy! I've never worked with any kind of electric fence (other than my husband telling me not to touch the neighbors' at the property line). Would you have any advice there? Would I put the electric mesh fence over a cattle panel style hoop house and call it good? Does it still need to be wrapped in hardware cloth? Does the electric mesh make the metal from the cattle panel electrified too? Sorry, I'm sure these are stupid questions but I really appreciate you taking the time to educate me!

The electric fence has to stand alone, it cant touch anything or it wont work. They are not cheap either but you know the old addage, a project can be fast, cheap or good, pick any two of those. The fence would keep out 4 legged mammles, maybe not a weasle but those are pretty rare. If it were me i would not run hardware cloth for a temp structure but it would be a risk.