We had two ducks and didnt have an enclosure for them.. We now need an enclosure, unfortunately they didnt survive a raccoon or something got them both. We are new to this and need something simple but sturdy and cheap. Help please?
Sad to hear of your loss. I suppose I don't need to say, now, that ducks are very likely to get killed by predators unless you have a sturdy, secure area for them. Please take a look at this topic: https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=178796 Especially note the one at the bottom of the first page - I think you should be able to put this together pretty easily. And for just a few ducks I think it would work nicely. But do read more, about the ways that predators have of getting past barriers and incorporate the ideas. I use two strands of electric fence - equine tape - and I know for sure it's zapped two raccoons this year. I use half inch hardware cloth over any and all openings in the night pen. I also, by the way, just have them in a pen in our walkout basement. No, it doesn't stink. I use straw, add a little each day for a week or so, and change it all out when it begins to smell earthy. It is important to manage their water (I give them water 24/7), so I have their bucket in the bottom of a plastic dog crate, to catch the splash. Anyway, now that you've seen the heartbreak predators can cause, please do take advantage of all the knowledge and experience here.
Most of the really nasty little boogers like coyotes and racoons and skunks only come out after dark. I have a barn, and simply close my ducks in there at night XD. I tried building an entire enclosure for the ducks so they were always fenced in and let me tell you, that was over 200 dollars and now is nothing but a muck pit because of how much mud they put in there. I would suggest building a small house or shed, and getting some guard dogs to protect the land (make sure they are used to live stock and birds.) We have 6 dogs on our property at just about any time, only three are ours but that's beside the point, and just the smell of them and the cats is enough to send most predators packing. They know there is a dog there and don't want to mess with it. Definatly build a pen for night time, but in my opinion if you want your animals safe, a good dog is the best way to keep them that way. Not really helpful with your building issue XD sorry, just thought I'd throw my two cents in the pot. Good luck! Sorry you lost your babies. I lost my first ones to it happens!
Quote:I kept my flock of ducks in a brooder pen in my polebarn until they were big enuff to go into a secure run/pen. When they were feathered I would let them out into the yard during the day then herd them back into the pen and lock them in at night. When they got bigger we herded them down to a watershed pond at the corner of my property. We let them out of the pen in the morning and they go straight to the pond (mallards flying and rouens running) where they will spend the day being ducks then right before dark they head back to their pen in the polebarn and we close them in for the night. plastic doghouses make pretty good duck houses.
I got a free dog house off Craigslist and put a door on it. The ducks are very happy. Two of them nested and hatched ducklings in.
Duck coop on the left and Guinea coop on the right. Guinea coop. (Need to take new pictures, since this was when we were about 95% done with, but not quite.) I'm trying to sell the guinea to make more room for the ducks, but I have yet to get the guineas sold.. *Sigh*
Quote:That is pretty much how we do things here, mine all free range and we lock them in a small barn at night we specifically built for the ducks, we have dogs and barn cats... that are about.. our main predators are night time issues... all my birds are left full flight.. so they can get up and away if really needed. I do have a pen but it's only used for new birds... it would be way to costly to predator proof overnight and as expected nothing but mud so provides nothing in the way of forging that free ranging my birds can.
