How much coop space does a runner duck need?

[TracyLovesDucks]

Looking forward to hearing what people have to say. But in my opinion 10x10 is really nice for 2 ducks, like a duck mansion

Other considerations are temperature control and natural lighting. Right now, our barn has a few shortcomings that might help you with your design:
- Our ducklings are waiting for us to install a window in their barn (they have fluorescent lighting during the day right now, and natural when we let them out)
- We're hoping that also helps control the temperature, as it gets to be almost 10 degrees (f) hotter in there than outside in the afternoons (shade would be nice, but we don't have many trees)

 

[Carrosaur]

We can't figure out if we want it to be an enclosed pin or more like a dog run with a small dog house-looking coop inside that they can go into during the night, what do you think? I live in middle Tennessee so our summers are very hot but our winters can get bad... No snow, just very cold and rainy.

 

[melAnconaMom]

my 3 ducks are only 9 weeks right now and not really ready for nesting though they are already fairly large ( probably because they are mixed breed) My partner thinks they are all Female because of their quack but one still has a raspy peeping duckling voice and we are unsure if it is male or female. I have a 3x4 5 ft tall kennel that they sleep in at night together. I originally planned to have them in a bigger shelter but they wont go in it.. they keept going to the kennel during the hot part of the day and when it got dark so i started supplying them with pine shavings and straw for bedding. I hope they will use the actual shelter when they start laying.. I don't know what to do when they crowd themselves X.X

 

[TracyLovesDucks]

I've found that ducks are slow to change... unless you "help" them along. You could take away the kennel and put treats in their new home. Maybe start out taking away the kennel for a few hours a day, then start taking it away for a longer period of time each day after that.

This method worked for me when I wanted to encourage my runner ducks to forage more. They were spending about 90% of the day in their pool and not foraging (which is hilarious, because I've heard that runner ducks aren't as crazy about water as other ducks--myth busted). So I caged off their pool every other day for a week, which forced them to explore their yard and forage more. Now they spend a more balanced amount of time in their pool versus foraging, and that's even after I gave back 24 hour access to their pool.

Or maybe you're not worried about their preference for the smaller space. Maybe in time they will decide to move.

 

[TracyLovesDucks]

Woops, double post.

 

[melAnconaMom]

i tried to remove the kennel it was only a temp housing when I first got them and kept them indoors as hatch-lings. When I removed the Kennel they started running to the back door and started pecking and making a lot of ruckus and even camped out the door ignoring the pond, food and wide open space to explore along with the shelter. When I placed the kennel out for storage out folded up they ran to the corner where it was and pecked at it so I set it up and they went inside. I thought it wouldn't be an issue at first but now my spoiling over the weeks has lead to them all huddled up in a 1.1 ratio leaving about a foot of empty space by the door and refusing to sleep or rest anywhere else. Though now with the kennel out there they do forage and explore the kiddy pool pond. I'll try the treat thing though.. Maybe they just feel the kennel is safer for now? I was tempted to leave it removing the door once they started laying eggs as another daytime option for hiding eggs and such since I figured they would want more space and would automatically seek out the hut at night.. What do you think?

 

[TracyLovesDucks]

Oh boy, our duckies live such special lives

When I moved our ducklings out to their house, they were very timid and cautious and wouldn't go out to explore their yard. They would only come out when I was there to guide the way. But after a few days they started venturing out for short periods of time on their own. Then after a week or maybe two they were pretty much comfortable with the whole situation. Even then, they had chosen two spots in the yard to spend most of their time. FINALLY, after another week or so they understood that it was safe, and they were free to move about the cabin, as they say.

In my own humble opinion, and looking back on everything that I've done, I've been overly cautious and careful with my ducks. I think giving them a little extra nudge here and there is OK, so long as they remain happy and healthy. For example, if I had closed them out of the house for a few hours each day, it probably wouldn't have taken weeks for them to be comfortable. But, I suppose it wasn't a big deal to let them do it in their own time. Sorry if this seems like indecisive rambling. The point is you need to do what you are comfortable with and what is best for the ducks in the long run. If they'll be fine, let them adjust in their own time. If you're worried about space issues, give them more nudges and commit.