How much square footage for ducks?

[Soon2BChixMom]

I will have to look as I don't remember reading that in Storey's guide, but I suppose it is possible. There are a few things in Storey's guide that conflicts with other advice given by duck owners here on byc.
My ducks have a little over 4 sq foot per duck and they refused to go into their house last night without a lot of prodding from me. I don't think, I would want to work with less space.

 

[TheAmundsons]

Our 10 chickens and 2 ducks are in together and everything is going very well! The chickens LOVE to drink out of the pool too. Our Pekin is a drake, and is definitely the lowest bird on the totem pole, which is very interesting. At the moment, I don't see any issue in keeping the chickens and ducks together, but if something should change, we'd address that then. I agree that making the coop and run as big as possible will be the best bet. Ours have way more than the minimum recommendation, and it seems like they don't have nearly enough room! We've started letting them free range for about 4 hours a day, but I'm thinking we may eventually get to completely free ranging!

 

[Cayuga momma]

I have to be careful with free ranging mine, because we live on a mountain in the middle of nowhere. I don't really have ground predator problem, because my rottweiler has become extremely protective of them. He even goes in the run and lays down with them. I also have a live bait trap out to catch any critters, which I have. The problem is owls and hawks. The hawks I'm not too concerned with because we have tons of robins and sparrows that have attacked the hawks that come around. I have seen them knock them out of the sky, lol. And I make sure they all get into the coop before its too dark. So far I have been pretty lucky, because my run is only built to keep the chickens and ducks in, not anything out.

Sorry for the book, lol

 

[Miss Lydia]

because my run is only built to keep the chickens and ducks in, not anything out.

Might be a real good idea to address that before cold weather comes when most prey is hiding out for the winter. The predators will be looking at our birds for dinner more so than in summer.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I will have to look as I don't remember reading that in Storey's guide, but I suppose it is possible. There are a few things in Storey's guide that conflicts with other advice given by duck owners here on byc.
My ducks have a little over 4 sq foot per duck and they refused to go into their house last night without a lot of prodding from me. I don't think, I would want to work with less space.

It's in my edition of Story's guide to raising Ducks. I promise I wouldn't lie. page 192

 

[Cayuga momma]

Yes I'm saving up for poultry netting, that way if any critters try to get in they will get zapped. I'm also going to get the netting to cover the top, I just have to figure out how to do that since the run is so large.

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

It's in my edition of Story's guide to raising Ducks. I promise I wouldn't lie. page 192

I will check once I have time. 4 sq ft is engrained in my brain.
Even if it states 2 sq ft, I think that is just too small. Like I said, I think sometimes we duck owners on byc conflict on some advice vs Storey's guide. (example: purina flock raiser is often okayed by byc members from duckling through adult, but Storey's guide does not advocate 20% protein the whole life of a duck.)

 

[Cayuga momma]

I have the ebook of Storey's guide. I forgot I had it, oops.
Page 192 of the ebook shows this:

But i found the Square footage on this page:

It does say 2 to 6 square feet.
But I agree that 2 sq ft just seems way to small for ducks!

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

That is probably why 4 sq ft is often stated here on byc then, it is someplace in the middle. It also mentions size and temperament. Do what you want. I do when it comes to raising my ducks and chickens.

 

[Lil Drake40]

That’s why we say bigger is always better. 2sq ft would be too small even for bantams in my thought.