HELP PLEAS WITH IDEAS FOR SECURE DUCK PEN

[pirtykitty]

Hubby told me a few days ago that he would build me a duck pen.. I need ideas for a duck pen for them to be in during the day when not out and about. and also ideas for keeping them safe at night..

Hubby built me a raised pen that I keep Fred and friends in at night. But if I get more ducklings later in year I need something more..
Thank you
christine

 

[Dances with Ducks]

What kinds of predators do you have in your area?

Will they be free to run in the pen at night, or locked in a secure house?

Are you going to have ducklings in there at times? If so you will need something covering the top.

 

[pirtykitty]

We have raccoons for sure.. We are not far from Lake Waco. So know there are also foxes, cayotes, possums, also owls.. Hawks during the day.. I would love for them to beable to be loose in pen at night but want to be able to sleep too. Hopefully can come up with something that does it all. There may be ducklings later down the line.
I would like for them to have a nice place to get in out of the weather and to lay eggs.

I think the space that hubby will build it on is either 10 x12 or 8 x10. will have to go measure again and see if there is any more length etch I can talk him into. I'm hoping I can have him put a roof of some kind on it but not shingle. I'd like to be able to walk in.
I know I will need some hardware cloth. what else is good for predator safe fencing. I know that chicken wire is a joke. Just from past reading..

 

[Dances with Ducks]

I don't have the type of set up you need as we live in a city, hope people with the experience you need chime in.

I was just checking Holderreads, he says the lower 30'' of housing should not have holes larger than 1/2 " diameter. And flooring needs to be solid or have the hardware cloth so nothing can dig under. You already know all of this I'm sure.

The lady I bought one of my ducks from says if a kid can find a way to open a latch, a raccoon will too.
For the pen, welded wire comes with openings of various dimensions, less than 2x4 '' isn't good as ducks may get their heads stuck in them.
Gamebird netting over the top keeps out winged predators but not raccoons in the evening.
Holderread likes to use a perimeter fence away from but surrounding the pen made of electric or electroplastic fencing which keeps out even climbing predators like raccoons. But that's pretty big time arrangements...

He says if you get a broody hen outside the house athat portable electroplastic fencing set up around her is a lifesaver.

 

[pirtykitty]

We live in town also. The hardware cloth on my other ducks night pen is about 1/4 inch.. We looked at the 1/2 inch and said no way..
I use a large rubber mat on one end with lots of pine shavings . then the other end is left with hard ware cloth exposed so their swiming water will drain out along with poo.. Stays a lot cleaner this way.. when I had mat on both ends they got bedding soaked on one end constantly.

 

[farmertank]

just a suggestion. for a shelter you could get a truck topper. One that has the door on the back that lifts up. I would secure this shut, but so you can open it and then leave the little window(that would be behind the back winshield of the truck) open so they can go in and out. Then if you want to shut them in for the night You could just shut the window. If you get one with the little side windows, you could open them a little to have fresh air going through.

But if it is open they can get in their out of the weather or to lay eggs, or just to be alone.


I hope this makes since lol.

Julie