I need a small duck coop for the winter!

[olp_63]

I can't believe how fast Fall is coming this year!

We are in the process of finishing a large coop for our chickens. It is complete with a large run for the chickens to roam all year long during daytime and fair weather. I thought we'd be all set. Then a problem arose, in the form of my sassy Pekin hen and her evil Runner hen companion. The two ducks were supposed to be housed in the coop with the 10 chickens. But the ducks are very aggressive toward the chickens.

We are also adding a Muscovy drake to the mix tomorrow. I've decided that the best and safest solution would be to build a small coop for the ducks only. Not a walk-in. Simply a coop big enough to hold the two duck hens and drake. Also, if he proves to need separation from the hens, then the new coop would need to be large enough to accomodate that as well.

I'm thinking a "toy chest" style coop. You know, the ones that are rectangular and have a hinged lid for easy access. Maybe one separated down the middle if the drake can't be kept with the two hens.

MY QUESTIONS:

1. Does anyone have plans for a safe, secure, warm, small, and simple coop? I can improvise myself when adding the custom details.

2. Can the ducks free range all year long during the day? The two hens have been great about not straying from the property. And I know they would need to stay indoors during severe weather. But I don't want to have to build a separate run for the ducks if it's not necessary.

Thanks! ---Whitney <3

 

[Buster]

I'm not sure but I would like to know as well because we are planning our super poultry yard and I need some ideas.

 

[Jayare's Chicks]

You mentioned you had a peking & a runner duck and was getting a muscovy drake. Are you planning on having any ducklings in the future? I only ask this because if you cross a muscovy with any other duck the offspring will be sterile.
I don't know if you knew that so if you plan on hatching out any babies to grow and have babies of their own then you may want to get a different type of duck for your drake.

Jayare

 

[Katy]

I keep my call ducks penned year round. I have doghouses for them in cold weather, but they very rarely go in without me herding them in. They prefer to be outside even when it's bitter cold and snowy. When lots of snow and bitter cold are forecast I herd them in at night and they complain constantly until the next morning when I let them out. I make sure they have dry hay to nestle in outside if they want it.

 

[Heather J]

I built a simple straw bale lean to with a sheet metal top for my geese and ducks and put it in the run where it was secure. They hardy ever spend time in the lean to unless it's really sunny (a great dearth of any trees on my property). Putting it in the run made it secure, and if they need to get out of the wind, the straw bales do a good job. You'll want to attach the top to a couple 2x4s or something for weight because mine curls every time the wind blows (I need to fix that soon). This winter I think I'm going to makes a simple A-frame out of the cement board people put under tile--there are lots of different qualities and some won't hold up outside, but I have access to a high-quality type. They really just need somewhere to get out of the weather if it gets extreme--the rest of the time they'll run wild, and yes, I let mine forage year round, but I always supplement a lot in the winter because of snow.

My neighbor said his geese and ducks never use the lean to int he winter, just wake up and shake off the snow that has fallen during the night. We're zone 5-6.

 

[coffeelady3]

I used this particular doghouse for my coop. I just added a door that closes with a hasp and caribener. The roof comes off, and I attached it with hasps in the back (secured with caribeners) and in the front with eye bolts (I think that's what they are called) also secured with trusty caribeners. (How do you spell that word, anyway?) That way the hasps in the back work as hinges, if I only want to open the lid, but it's still easy to remove the whole darned thing for cleaning. It's working great.

http://www.doghouses.com/dog-houses...agerschoiceextremeoutbacklogcabindoghouse.cfm

 

[MSP]

I have a 3ft x 6ft duck house and a 12 x 8 run for my duck(s). The house is open on one side and I find ducks just prefer to be out so I use the house so the food stays dry.

I used to have doors on it (with no run) and would put the ducks up at night because of predidation. It was work to keep it clean because I kept them locked up when ever I was away and at work. With the run the ducks have a little pool to swim in and little work for me!

 

[hereachick]

We had a similar problem last yr.Our ducks were aggressive toward the chickens and the 2 males were fighting relentllessly with each other and making each other raw. we had a lg. plastic doghouse with a lift off cover we put this in the run with lots of hay facing away from the way the storms usually blow in.we also seperated part of the run with chicken wire just for them with a netting over the top of course so they wouldn't fly back over.On stormy nights or when weather was bad we'd chase them in a block the entrance with a old baby gate this worked well for us.
This yr we want them back inside the coop with everyone else so we're going to build specially pens for each pair of ducks on top of each other so they can hear each other but not see each other.Then we can let one pair out while the other is penned and switch back and forth so they won't fight and everyone is protected the same way.

 

[olp_63]

Jayare's Chicks :

You mentioned you had a peking & a runner duck and was getting a muscovy drake. Are you planning on having any ducklings in the future? I only ask this because if you cross a muscovy with any other duck the offspring will be sterile.
I don't know if you knew that so if you plan on hatching out any babies to grow and have babies of their own then you may want to get a different type of duck for your drake.

Jayare

No, I wasn't planning on crossing any of them. If I do decide to have ducklings I will purchase a Muscovy hen.

This may be a newbie question but, what does sterile mean anyway?

 

[olp_63]

Quote:
I saw that exact same dog house at Lowes! I wasn't considering that as an option, but it seems WAY more affordable (and ready built). I think I just might do that.