Husband Wants Rouen Ducks Info Needed!

[NVChickenGrl]

The predators we have to worry about around here I know how to handle, and I'll run electric wire around the outside of the fencing to keep them from digging in. I'll also make sure to cover the top of the pen with some heavy netting to make sure nothing can get in that way. Mostly coyotes and hawks out here that we would need to worry about. The coyotes being the worst of the problem. The overhead netting will be enough to keep the hawks at bay. The coyotes will be my biggest hassle. They've already put up a fight with my chickens. I've already had to dispatch a couple.
You talking about this with me has my husband excited lol! We were sitting on our front porch last night and the hubby looked at me and said, "So, since I want a couple Rouens, you can have a Pekin or two." I giggled. I had been planning to make the 'Duck Sanctuary' big enough for 4 ducks, just in case he caved on letting me have a Pekin or two, but I didn't think he'd do it so early lol! The space I described is big enough for 4 ducks right? Now if I want to build them like a coop that I can lock them up in at night for extra protection, that will work too right?

 

[Amiga]

Yes, many people have a secure pen for daytime, with a "Little Fort Knox" shelter for night time.

There are generally more predators out at night, and they pretty much have 8 to 10 hours to take their time breaking into a shelter. Everything wants duck dinner. And some of the smaller ones as I mentioned only need a one inch gap (repeat one inch gap) to get in.

Let me go back to your area post and do some calculating on area. But I think you have plenty of room for four large ducks. So, you wrote 54 feet by 25 feet, yes? That is abundant room for 4 ducks. 25 square feet per duck, if I recall correctly, is the minimum that Storey's Guide recommends. In your climate, I think the 54 x 25 will be quite fine for a small flock - with room to expand should you fall victim to duck math.