Hi! Congrats on getting runners - such cute, sweet and entertaining ducks! Can't wait to see pics! You've gotten great tips so far - not too much to add to all the good stuff @DuckyDonna covered!
I just want to comment on the concrete and drainage.
We put a concrete pad under our run, then laid cheap linoleum over that. Then we put hay/pine shavings in the cold months in the run and house. Last summer I just hosed out the run instead of using bedding. However it never stopped raining last summer, combine that with ducks splashing and me spraying their run out, I ended up having to put in a drainage area next to the run going into an underground pipe distributed out into the yard. I switched to sand later and really liked it b/c it scoops so easily - and it's dry LOL.
I hear people talk about how stinky ducks are but I don't have any problem with odors. My Mother even says the ducks don't stink - and she thinks ALL animals stink
I scoop the big stuff out twice daily and take it to the compost pile - then fluff the bedding. I also rotate the bedding... I scoop more from the run everyday, so I take bedding from the house to fill the run. Then all the new/fresh bedding goes into the house. Side note - I see people selling their USED chicken and duck bedding on craigslist for other people to buy for their compost piles - something to consider if you don't have a compost pile of your own
You may try a few things before you find what works best for you. What I learned is that the duck house/run/yard/etc is the project that never ends!!!
But it's a fun project! And our babies are worth it!
Have fun!!!
I just want to comment on the concrete and drainage. We put a concrete pad under our run, then laid cheap linoleum over that. Then we put hay/pine shavings in the cold months in the run and house. Last summer I just hosed out the run instead of using bedding. However it never stopped raining last summer, combine that with ducks splashing and me spraying their run out, I ended up having to put in a drainage area next to the run going into an underground pipe distributed out into the yard. I switched to sand later and really liked it b/c it scoops so easily - and it's dry LOL.
I hear people talk about how stinky ducks are but I don't have any problem with odors. My Mother even says the ducks don't stink - and she thinks ALL animals stink
I scoop the big stuff out twice daily and take it to the compost pile - then fluff the bedding. I also rotate the bedding... I scoop more from the run everyday, so I take bedding from the house to fill the run. Then all the new/fresh bedding goes into the house. Side note - I see people selling their USED chicken and duck bedding on craigslist for other people to buy for their compost piles - something to consider if you don't have a compost pile of your own
You may try a few things before you find what works best for you. What I learned is that the duck house/run/yard/etc is the project that never ends!!!
But it's a fun project! And our babies are worth it! Have fun!!!

I really love the wall divider you made for them. I wish I had a large yard/acreage for them
I’m worried that moving a poultry fence around won’t be enough for them. I’ll be spending as much time as possible with them and I’ll be able to provide a loving, safe and clean environment; just small. I may just get two females instead of three if I think the coop & run size won’t be adequate enough. I read 4 sq ft per duck inside the coop and 20 sq ft per duck for their run. I plan on a 10ft long and 5 ft wide( & 5ft tall for me to get in fairly comfortably I’m 5’2) run with the coop inside it. Like I said I may wait a month or two to get the ducklings so I have ample time to force my man to help build it all lol. I’m also planning on using 1/2 inch hardware wire and wooden posts to build the run and will put the hardware wire on their coop vents/windows. I’ll make sure they’re locked in at night with a raccoon proof latch. I know we have lots of roaming cats in the neighborhood and I’ve seen a few owls. There’s a ton of groundhogs near by; I hope they won’t be an issue! I will bury the fencing for their run a foot underground to be safe. I’m still debating on whether to put a partial roof on the run or just wire. Or maybe just a small 3ft from the ground awning over their food corner where they can get shade. What do you think? I’ll post pictures of everything once it’s done. Oh and my dog is pretty big 130lbs; but so is an Anatolian lol Anatolians (I believe) are usually flock guardians so it is in their nature to be more gentle with other animals. Of course there’s exceptions. My boy is a jealous one and quite high energy for a mastiff. I’m worried he’ll be overly excitable and pushy. I’ll make sure to be very careful and slowly try to get him accustomed to them from the start. He’s never unsupervised so I’m not worried about him around the ducks once they’re outside if he can’t get along with them while they’re tiny.He doesn’t have a high prey drive at least!
