Help choosing a coop

[festivalfire]

Hi I am new at raising ducks, I have helped friends raise chicks and ducklings before and decided this year I was going to start my own flock. Anyways I have 4 ducks/ducklings (a random assortment from tractor supply, 2 white layer ducks, a racer and a mallard) and they are quickly out growing their incubator boxes and can jump out. I am going to get/build a coop/hutch this week but I am not sure on what the dimensions should be! Any help would be appreciated! Thanks!

 

[Alaskan]

Hi I am new at raising ducks, I have helped friends raise chicks and ducklings before and decided this year I was going to start my own flock. Anyways I have 4 ducks/ducklings (a random assortment from tractor supply, 2 white layer ducks, a racer and a mallard) and they are quickly out growing their incubator boxes and can jump out. I am going to get/build a coop/hutch this week but I am not sure on what the dimensions should be! Any help would be appreciated! Thanks!

The bigger the better.... but it also depends on your climate.... lots of rain, snow, wind......????

But ducks usually are happy with a coop on the smaller size... so 4 square feet per duck... so a house 4x4 would work.

However, a huge run would be best.

The run should be at least 15 square feet per duck.

 

[festivalfire]

The bigger the better.... but it also depends on your climate.... lots of rain, snow, wind......????

But ducks usually are happy with a coop on the smaller size... so 4 square feet per duck... so a house 4x4 would work.

However, a huge run would be best.

The run should be at least 15 square feet per duck.

I have a fenced in backyard, would I still need to build a run or could I let them out during the day and put them back at night?

 

[Alaskan]

I have a fenced in backyard, would I still need to build a run or could I let them out during the day and put them back at night?

Depends.....

Most common daytime predators are dogs and all of the raptors (hawks, eagles, etc.). If your backyard fence can protect them from dogs.... and you don't have many raptors, it could work.

However, you might not want them to destroy ALL of your lawn.

It is nice to have a fully predator proof run connected to the coop so that you have peace of mind, and they can have fresh air even if you are gone for the day or all of the hawks in the world start flying over your backyard.

Also, if they have a run, it is easier to keep them from killing all of your grass.

You haven't yet mentioned what the climate is like where you live...... if you have a bunch of rain or snow a roofed run is wonderful since the birds can be in the run but out of the weather.

 

[Willowspirit]

I recently saw an ingenious backyard coop set up. @Dharmachick they built a large coop/run against their side fence. They have raised beds along the back fence which is the longer dimension. They have constructed a chicken run in the back of the raised beds. In front they have garden plants of all kinds. They still have a lawn and room for other things in maybe a 40x20 backyard.

 

[jthornton]

You should put your location in your profile.

JT

 

[Dharmachick]

I recently saw an ingenious backyard coop set up. @Dharmachick they built a large coop/run against their side fence. They have raised beds along the back fence which is the longer dimension. They have constructed a chicken run in the back of the raised beds. In front they have garden plants of all kinds. They still have a lawn and room for other things in maybe a 40x20 backyard.

Sounds perfect! I'm just finishing up a 4 x 6 x 6 coop for my chicks, and man it was hard. I worried over it more than I built it. It is up off the ground, and used mostly recycled wood. Never ever put up a gable roof with 2x2s. It doesn't work, lol.