I bought an XL dog house for a duck house

[MissPrissy]

I am always looking for 'deals' to be able to better house some of the other fowl I own. My husband built me a goose house and has planned to start another duck house. Since thinning the flock of ducks they needed a smaller shelter. Yesterday in the feed store they were trying to get rid of dog houses they have had in stock for awhile and the price was just too good. ($70).

So, I got the XL model with lift of lid. It is big enough for my 6 appleyards to be completely contained and out of inclimate weather.

But we all know ducks do not come in out of the rain, or snow, or -fill in the blank.

It does make me feel better that they don't have a jacked-up, make-do, temp shelter, just incase they do want to go inside.

Made by Blitz, the out-bak dog shelter is for a dog up to 150 lbs. It is huge. Any larger and it would not have fit in my Excursion. Huge.

This would make a good hen house if on a raised platform. It has drain holes in the bottom for washing it out. It is durable. It would need a little modification for a door but it would work really well.

It would also work fabulously for a transitional brooder.

 

[Katy]

That's what I've always used for my ducks.....not that they ever willing go into it!! There is one hen that likes to make her nest in it in the spring, But other than that unless I herd them into it and block the entrance they prefer the elements to a nice dry spot.

 

[MissPrissy]

I bought a 2nd one to keep my dewlap toulouse out of the main goose flock and in their own pen now. I want to breed them. This one is large enough for a pair. My gander is just a monster.

 

[Rte.66_chicks]

Those "dog houses" are handy! I have an extra that will become a broody coop when the time comes. My buff orps will be a year old in April, and I'm hoping one of them wants to be a mommy.

I should probably be careful of what I wish for; all ten of them and the five Lt. Brahmas will probably go broody on me!

 

[bills]

I wonder if it's the enclosed spaces that ducks do not like? They are kind of vulnerable to predators that stand in the doorway, and can't fly away to escape. My neighbor had a simple cover for them, that was opened on all sides. Not very cosy, but they seemed to use it.

That is a neat unit. A person could use just the top half, or turn the bottom upside down, for a lightweight portable chicken tractors.

Just hinge a screen door to it, and away you go.

 

[qhluvr34]

I have 3 dog houses in my duck pen and 1 in my guinea pen and they work great. Just take them apart, hose them out, put back together and put fresh straw back in and you are good to go. It took my ducks a couple of days to get use to them but they now use them in bad weather, but only in bad weather, they still prefer to sleep outside otherwise. The guineas all like to get on top of theirs in good weather and sleep in a huddle.

 

[Wifezilla]

I wonder if it's the enclosed spaces that ducks do not like?

My ducks like hiding in enclosed spaces. Their duck hut is kind of long and narrow. They hide at the furthest end. They have also hidden behind the hut against a fence and Chrissy tried to hide UNDER the hut while it was being lowered to the ground and she almost got squished.

My ducks are weird

 

[MissPrissy]

My appleyards are ready to lay for the season. I am hoping they will nest in there and I can have lots of lovely duck eggs.

 

[miss_jayne]

that is great!

i got one of them off Freecycle a few months back. it's the 'dog house' shape. in new condition! they are so sturdy.

 

[EllyMae]

Mother Earth news has great instructions on making a portable coop using a dog house like that...