How to modify lean to for ducks and what breed to get?

[TorchwoodMindfreak]

Hello I'm thinking about getting a few ducks (Probably four more if you guys think I have the space) but I need to know if my old goat encloser is suitable and if not what I can do to make it so. The pen is 12' by 12' and is 5' high, the house is 50in open front, 45in tall at front, 39in tall in back, and is 37in deep. If this will work I plan on getting one of those $15 kiddie pools from walmart. We have a small pond about a 4 minute walk from this encloser that I'm currently waiting on to fill up. So what do I need to do to make this suitabal for ducks? And when they're big can I leave them out to wander in the day or only when I'm with them? We don't have a completely fenced property and there are dogs and cats that live around. If this is okay I think I will get a Rouen drake and single Cayuga, Welsh Harlequin, and either a Khaki Campbell or Buff Orpington hens. From what I've read these are all friendly duck right? And I just can't decide between the Khaki Campbell or Buff Orpington, what do you guys think?

 

[gofasterstripe]

I do know they will trn that pen into a mud slop the 1st rain you have

 

[TLWR]

Do those dogs and cats that are around like ducks? Like in the "boy, ducks are tastey" If so, I'd not let the ducks roam your yard without the aid of a fence to keep predators at bay.
And then that enclosure becomes very small for full time living, especially after you get the pool in there, for four full grown ducks. As Nicky said, you'll have a mud pit after the first rain (and with a pool, might not even need the first rain for them to figure out how to do that lol).
If you can get them out for supervised time in the yard, it might not be so bad.

 

[The Duck ABC's]

The duck yard is a little bit small, but seems to be easily fixed. The shed needs some work. The floor needs to be save from predators, like rats and minks, to get in. You can put hardware cloth down and add soil on top. Put concrete pavers underneath it if you worry about mud. Just make sure the pavers are covered with something, because they are hard on their feet. You also need to build some door to close. Not sure what climate you are in, but metal will transfer cold into it, so you may have to consider insulation in winter. Not an issue if you don't really have winters or very mild winters.

 

[TorchwoodMindfreak]

Okay I've never heard of most of those things but I'll look it up. The dogs and cats have never seen a duck as far as I know. Oh and don't worry about the cold I live in Texas! lol but I don't think we have minks and I've never seen rats here (except for my pet ones). Oh and do ducks like to eat grasshoppers? If so they will have a field day here!

 

[vebyrd36]

Okay here is a pic of my by Cayuga Duck tha I hatched from non related ducks. The duck has a topknot. I can live with that but the claw growing from it's head is freaking me out. The duck is a pure breed. Help is greatly needed. Thank you



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[The Duck ABC's]

That looks like an undeveloped twin. Extremely rare and amazing that it hatched and is living. It's not the crest gene from looking at the image.

You should still protect the shed from below, because there are tons of other critters that can dig under and kill.

 

[pekinduck<3er]

do some cayugas and is that aother duckling that did not develop aww...

 

[TorchwoodMindfreak]

so instead of that hardware cloth would chicken wire work? And I'm guessing I'd need to put some over the opening on the side. And how do you guys think I should make a door?

 

[The Duck ABC's]

Chicken wire is useless. A skunk will bite through it in a second. Hardware cloth is available everywhere. They sometimes call it welded wire cloth/fence. They usually have them in 1/2" wire spacing. Homedepot sell it in the fence section.