I need a duck house!

[KittyIsQuackers]

Hello, I urgently need to build a duck house (the coop area, not the run) for up to twelve ducks, but I don’t know where to start or what I need. Can you guys post some plans or ideas? Possibly a few pictures of your duck houses? And do any of you have an idea on how to build something I can walk into (I’m fine with crouching)? How big? We have hawks, snakes, snapping turtles (coop will be by a small creek) and raccoons, how should it best protect them? We don't have much money, so it needs to be fairly inexpensive. My budget is less than $200. Thanks in advance.

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

Basically a duck house only needs 4 walls with a door and ventilation - and a people door. You should allow for 4sq ft per duck so for 12, that is 48 sq ft.
Ducks won't spend as much time in their house as chickens would.
Do you have access to pallets or scrap wood? That would be the best place to start. You could also find cheap or free wood on craigslist if needed.
Also, try a search here on byc and look through the images. You will get a lot of ideas.
The duck sticky also has a link for housing ideas.

 

[BirdGirl2004]

Hey! Ducks are pretty simple to build housing for, and I've got a few ideas that are great for ducks!

This is a great duck house that has lots of play areas, and a pool attached :

This one is a little extravagant, but is huge, and great or winter months as well:

This is a simple one that is more reasonable:

Depending on where you live, you'll want to make sure they have PLENTY of ventilation, and covering from the cold. Hope this helps a little!

 

[Miss Lydia]

https://www.cwrescue.org/predatorproofhousing

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...-there-and-cut-more-holes-in-your-coop.47774/

 

[KittyIsQuackers]

Hey! Ducks are pretty simple to build housing for, and I've got a few ideas that are great for ducks!

This is a great duck house that has lots of play areas, and a pool attached :
View attachment 1454394

This one is a little extravagant, but is huge, and great or winter months as well:

View attachment 1454427

This is a simple one that is more reasonable:

Depending on where you live, you'll want to make sure they have PLENTY of ventilation, and covering from the cold. Hope this helps a little!

Thank you for your help. I’m not going to get something like the top house because my ducks are free range (except when I’m introducing a new duck), but the middle and bottom ones look nice. I’m probably going to build something similar to the bottom one, only four feet on the sides and five feet in the middle.

Basically a duck house only needs 4 walls with a door and ventilation - and a people door. You should allow for 4sq ft per duck so for 12, that is 48 sq ft.
Ducks won't spend as much time in their house as chickens would.
Do you have access to pallets or scrap wood? That would be the best place to start. You could also find cheap or free wood on craigslist if needed.
Also, try a search here on byc and look through the images. You will get a lot of ideas.
The duck sticky also has a link for housing ideas.

Thanks. I’ll try looking for scrap.

 

[KittyIsQuackers]

https://www.cwrescue.org/predatorproofhousing

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...-there-and-cut-more-holes-in-your-coop.47774/

Thank you for the links!

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

Thank you for your help. I’m not going to get something like the top house because my ducks are free range (except when I’m introducing a new duck), but the middle and bottom ones look nice. I’m probably going to build something similar to the bottom one, only four feet on the sides and five feet in the middle.


Thanks. I’ll try looking for scrap.

Unless I am misunderstanding your post, 4x5 is 20 square feet which is enough for 5 ducks, not 12. I have a 4x4 playhouse and have 4 ducks. At first, I thought it would be overkill, but now, I see it is just fine. They only use it at night. Anything smaller would be too cramped with no room for movement or for them to get away if one is being naughty.

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

Here is the image search with duck house in the search query: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threadloom/search?query=Duck house&tab=619
Bigger is better for housing even if they are out free ranging during the day.

 

[Jpat]

Does everyone agree with the duck house size guide? I can understand if a drake was chasing ducks around but my 4 drakes slept jammed in one corner. and the two pekings sleep side by each

What iam saying is they take up no room

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

Does everyone agree with the duck house size guide? I can understand if a drake was chasing ducks around but my 4 drakes slept jammed in one corner. and the two pekings sleep side by each

What iam saying is they take up no room

I agree with the size guide. Even though the ducks mostly move as one when they are inside, my girls pick on each other just as much as my drake picks on them and I feel they need extra room if they need to get away.
As well, where will you have bedding for them to lay eggs in?