How long and wide are your ducks?

[Red-tailed Hawk]

Ok, so I'm going to be going on a long drive in a few months to visit my parents in another state and due to circumstances need to/get to bring my ducks along with. I'm trying to pick out a good dog carrier for them to be safe and comfortable in our van. My dilema is that I don't know how big they are going to be full grown. All I can find anywhere are the duck breed weights. My ducklings are a Khaki Campbell, Welsh Harlequin, Cayuga, and Buff Orpington. So, basically I've got two light weights, and two medium breed ducks. I'm wanting to start them being used to the carrier as ducklings so it will be no big deal to them to be in the carrier as adults if I need to do a trip like this upcoming one, visit the vet, or huddle in my basement because there is an incoming tornado. ;P lol. <knock on wood about that one> Anyways, is anyone willing to go measure their ducks for me?

 

[ducklover87]

I'm sorry but I just lol'ed at this. I understand your delimna and would love to help you out but mine are still growing. They are 13 weeks old. If they were older I would because I'm kinda curious myself now. Hope someone out their is willing to measure for you. I have 4 adult Pekins and when they lived in my basement for a few months this winter I used a large cat carrier to transport them outside on warmer days. Well its more the size of a small dog carrier. They were all able to stand up and not touch each other but its not big enough for them if they were to stay in it longer. So maybe an extra large dog crate or large dog crate would work?

 

[Red-tailed Hawk]

yeah, the extra large dog crate is what I'm leaning towards since, like most birds, ducks seem have severe seperation anxiety. I want to be able to comfortably fit all of them in there. I know it's so funny imagining someone out there with a tape measurer trying to wrestle a duck, but it's also really odd that nowhere out there is there any measurements on ducks. I had to wikipedia wild mallards to get a wingspan on ducks, yet all the duck advice books and pages say that the enclosures need to be able to allow them to stratch their wings without problems. After a while you laugh and go ok, how big is that. LOL! I swear I've torn my Storey's guide to ducks, this site, and I don't even know how many other internet pages apart trying to find out. I've decided that if I noone posts anything, when my ducks are grown I'll have to do the measurements and post them myself. Lol. It's funny what being a duck owner leads you to say and try and find out. LOL

 

[ducklover87]

Lol yes it is indeed. I don't think they would need to stretch their wings while in the carrier but if you stop at a rest stop I'd try to get them to stretch their wings along with letting them have fresh water and what not. Any easy way to do that would be to just sit in your car pick one up and let it just keep flapping. I say sit in your car because when I hold mine for a second and I go to start setting them down they will flap their wings and sometimes fly out of my hands and you wouldn't want that to happen outside. Or you could buy a luck harness off etsy.com and just take one duck out at a time but if you do that watch out for dogs.

 

[Red-tailed Hawk]

I hadn't thought about letting them stretch their wings when we stop. I'll definately have to do that. I think I'll go the leash route and just be ultra mindful of dogs and other dangers in the vicinity. Most the time when I've done road trips, which has been often because of my husband's work, there aren't a whole lot of people so I think that will be alright. Great tip! Thank you!

 

[ducklover87]

Your welcome. Hope you all have a great trip.

 

[melissamerry]

I have three white mallards and we drive to visit my parents a few times a month. Its a 3 to 7 hour drive, depending on traffic. I use a large folding dog crate, 36" L X 23" W X 25" H. It even has a divider in it in case the ducks need to be separated. Most of the time though, the ducks are on my lap looking out the window (they are so spoiled). They behave extremely well. We do stop every two hours or so to let them have some water and so I can shake out their poop blanket.

If we're going on a short trip or if we don't have room for a large carrier, we take the ducks in their large utility tote bag. I put the bag by my feet in the car and they sit quietly in it, or hop up on my lap. it looks like this

 

[Red-tailed Hawk]

Thanks so much for the picture and visual MelissaMerry! That is very very helpful! I'm now able to visualize things a little better. Do they every try hopping out or flap while they are on your lap?

 

[Red-tailed Hawk]

MelissaMerry do you think an extra large plastic dog carrier will be ok for 4 ducks, a Khaki Campbell, Welsh Harlequin, Buff, and Cayuga? (2 light weight, 2 medium size ducks) The measurements on the one I'm looking at are 40"L x 27"W x 30"H.

 

[melissamerry]

They move around on my lap, but only to get a better look outside. They really are just mesmerized by the view outside. I generally have the window up about 3/4 way just in case. But they've never tried to flap out or anything. Mine are very well accustomed to being handled though, I'm not sure what the situation would be otherwise.

I do think a large crate would be enough room for the four ducks, assuming they get along just fine. Maybe bring some treats to help them feel more comfortable in the car. Sometimes it can be stressful the first few times.