Hello chicken people!

[PagosaMark]

I actually introduced myself a couple years ago but have been inactive. A lot has changed since then. Currently have 5 hens, recently down from 7 plus a huge obnoxious rooster. Apparently his bellicosity captured the attention of a young black bear who broke into the coup while I was out of town. He got Big Red, Speckles, and Lady Grey. Also, have 2 Pekin Ducks.

I am hoping to find out what kind of shelter to make for the ducks. I built them a house, but they emerged bloody in the morning if I couped them up. They really wouldn't go in unless I chased them. Now, Lucy has built a nest in a little sheltered area with some straw I put out for her, but they both just kind of sleep in the grass in the middle of the yard. This will be the ducks 2nd winter. Last winter was very mild and the ducks were young and couped last Winter. This year, with no snow so far, but we had floods, (which the Ducks LOVED) I haven't been forced to find out sooner. Their house has been built into the new chicken coup as I think they have bad memories of their times as adolescents. Pretty sure Desi is a Drake, his curl was apparent when he was younger, and he would be the one neck bloodied when they were locked in together. He still walks up on her back and does his thing until she get's pissed and chases him away.

Please advise on a shelter they will use? (Just in case it snows)

Ducks are 1.5 years old. Still have not seen a duck egg...? Is Lucy barren?

PICS: 1. After the coup bloody neck on Desi. 2. Desi mounting Lucy 3. Lucy makes Desi wait by the side.

 

[sourland]

Hello, and welcome back to BYC.

 

[DobieLover]

Hello Mark, and welcome back to BYC!

 

[muddy75]

 

[Bsmac]

Hello Mark, Welcome back to BYC! Best of luck with your birds!

 

[Knobby]

Welcome back to the BYC! As for what to build for your Pekins, I built a coop, originally for my chickens, out of pallets. It was raised on cinder blocks and has a wooden ramp to access the insides. It's approximately 4'x5' and currently accommodates 7 ducks easily.

 

[Jener8or]

Hi! I don't have any reliable duck advice to give you, but we have a Duck Forum with lots of experienced duck owners that I'm sure will be happy to help! Best wishes to you and your flock and welcome back to BackYard Chickens!

 

[KtheChickenGal]

I actually introduced myself a couple years ago but have been inactive. A lot has changed since then. Currently have 5 hens, recently down from 7 plus a huge obnoxious rooster. Apparently his bellicosity captured the attention of a young black bear who broke into the coup while I was out of town. He got Big Red, Speckles, and Lady Grey. Also, have 2 Pekin Ducks.

I am hoping to find out what kind of shelter to make for the ducks. I built them a house, but they emerged bloody in the morning if I couped them up. They really wouldn't go in unless I chased them. Now, Lucy has built a nest in a little sheltered area with some straw I put out for her, but they both just kind of sleep in the grass in the middle of the yard. This will be the ducks 2nd winter. Last winter was very mild and the ducks were young and couped last Winter. This year, with no snow so far, but we had floods, (which the Ducks LOVED) I haven't been forced to find out sooner. Their house has been built into the new chicken coup as I think they have bad memories of their times as adolescents. Pretty sure Desi is a Drake, his curl was apparent when he was younger, and he would be the one neck bloodied when they were locked in together. He still walks up on her back and does his thing until she get's pissed and chases him away.

Please advise on a shelter they will use? (Just in case it snows)

Ducks are 1.5 years old. Still have not seen a duck egg...? Is Lucy barren?

PICS: 1. After the coup bloody neck on Desi. 2. Desi mounting Lucy 3. Lucy makes Desi wait by the side.

Welcome back!! I know nothing about ducks, sorry lol.

 

[Jenbirdee]

Female ducks also mount each other. I don’t see any curly Drake feathers on either of your ducks. What kind of sounds do they make? Do they both quack loudly? Only females quack. Drakes make a raspy voice sound like Cree Cree.
How much space did they have inside the shelter ? Pekins are a large breed and need more square footage than the standard 4 square feet per bird.
I wouldn’t let them sleep in the yard without a shelter - predators love ducks.
Their shelter needs plenty of ventilation , high up on the walls and covered with 19 gauge 1/2 inch spaced hardware cloth, a minimum of one square foot ventilation per duck.
Take care of the bloody neck / you can spray with vetericyn or a solution of 10% povidine iodine 1 part mixed into 4 parts waterand then apply some antibiotic ointment that does not contain pain relief.

 

[Debbie292d]

Hiya, Mark, and welcome to BYC!

We just got ducks this spring, so bought them a giant doghouse we found on Marketplace. It works perfectly for the three ducks and could hold more than double that. This is inside of a 5x10 kennel reinforced with hardware cloth and a greenhouse tarp to keep the wind out. They are only locked in at nightime, as we open it every morning and they free range with some of the silkies. Our ducks are all female.