INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[PeacefulWalls]

Okay, y'all, as is my usual habit anymore, instead of doing some homework today, I did something more interesting and drew up some basic plans for the duck coop.

Any duck people want to give me some pointers here as for how I can improve it?

Here is the floor plan. The coop itself will be about 6x4 feet. Dashes through the walls are windows and angled lines are doors. The rectangle at the lower left corner is approximately where the kick board to keep the bedding in will be. I was going to just use shavings like I have with the chicken coop. The rectangle along the right side of it is what I call the duck shelf; basically, it's like a community nest box if the ducks decide to lay in there. I put the windows where I did so that the area underneath the shelf would kind of be dark and enticing for nesting. Not sure if that's what ducks look for, though?




The front wall. That big, nondescript rectangle to the left is the human door. The square at the middle right is a window. I also drew in my idea for the duck shelf. I was thinking a 2x4 flat side up across the coop, about 1-1/2 feet off the floor. The shelf itself I want to be hinged, so I can just lift it up and get the eggs out of there without having to crawl my way underneath. The shelf will be at a slight angle (probably less than is shown) so that if they get up there and poop, it's less inclined to get into the hinges and mess things up. Oh, and that really thin, hard to see line across the top is a rough idea of where the vent opening will be on this side. I don't know yet if the roof will be gable-style or just flat and angled.




The shorter end walls. The one on the left has the pop door, approximately 1-1/2 feet by 1-1/2 feet. No windows because it will probably be facing toward a building anyway. The one on the right has one window and kind of shows the elevation between the front and back of the duck shelf (once again, it probably won't be quite that steep).



The back wall won't have any windows or doors, so I didn't bother to draw it.


Here is kind of how I picture the yard, not to scale. Black lines are walls and gray lines are fences, with the fence along the bottom showing where the chicken yard is. That brown square is a covered area so that I can put their feed outside instead of in the coop. The green circles are where trees are and the blue circle is about where their kiddie pool will be. There are two gates (the angled lines along the fences) because if we don't put that back gate in, there isn't going to be an easy way to get back into the woods beyond there. I don't know the measurements for sure, but I would estimate the yard at around 30 feet by 15 feet. We're going to try to cover it with bird netting to keep the ducks from flying out.





Please, pick it apart.

I'm designing this from a 'chicken person with no duck experience' point of view, so I need all the criticism I can get.

Sometimes our ducks will use a nest box, but often they just lay their eggs wherever they happen to be at the moment. Of course in their duck stall in the barn they have a few favorite spots to lay and outside there are a few spots we often check for eggs -- none of these being the nest area we provided for them. So we look everywhere they have access to because you never know where an egg will show up!

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Early planning stages for next years chickenfest, you can join the planning here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/909604/indiana-bycers-chickenfest-2015

Ok, I am thinking mid September. Yes or no's? taking a vote, and I will start looking for a northern location. Will post on our main thread also.
1. Plans are a swap, and maybe an auction on donated items like hatching eggs, even live birds. Swaps should be planned in advance and the owners responsibility. Chicken trains could also be worked out for the event.
2. @hoosiercheetah is offering an auto door demo. Other topics?
3. Pitch in or possibly catered. (several food chains even offer catering packages, like subway) Food committee will plan this, and take votes, decide on menu. @Minminme and possibly @barb s

Anyone interested in the food committee please holler! We need to plan for vegetarian members as well.
4. Time period...longer event, shorter? We all kinda felt it was too short!
Those 4 items will give us a good start on the new fest coming next year.
And just remembered also, campfire and smores!!!

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

Wow!!! Looks Great to me. My ducks do not really have a house right now. They can get in the goat house with the goats and Great Pyrenees but tend to like to sleep outside. I am going to build them an area inside my goat house to put them up at night before Winter hits. My original set up for them was 8'x16' covered run with a 6'x4' custom built insulated dog house in it, it was a good deal on craigslist for a shelter while they were young. They used it as a nest box when they started laying but never really slept in it. I have since moved them out to open up that adjoining area to the chickens.

Glad you think so! I've been sketching and scribbling out and sketching again until I settled on that arrangement. I really like it overall, just seeing if it seems like a good plan for a duck coop! I'd read where a lot of people have said their ducks like sleeping outside more than inside. I wonder if it's instinct? I'm a bit paranoid about making sure every single bird is where they belong (yes, I count all 42 chickens before I lock the coop up every night... ) so I'll probably be carrying ducks in to bed every night.

Sometimes our ducks will use a nest box, but often they just lay their eggs wherever they happen to be at the moment. Of course in their duck stall in the barn they have a few favorite spots to lay and outside there are a few spots we often check for eggs -- none of these being the nest area we provided for them. So we look everywhere they have access to because you never know where an egg will show up!

I'd also heard that ducks don't tend to use nests even if provided. I'm going to go ahead and provide it for them, but I'm not going to be totally shocked if they don't use it. Thanks for your thoughts!

My family made me a treadle feeder as a gift last year. (Dad built it while sister & mom did the artwork. Lizard pic b/c I used to raise reptiles.) After a year it still works, but I have to occasionally reassemble the lever arm. If I did not have it, I would be considering a pre-made metal one. I added a pointed peak to keep the chickens from sitting on it. The other feeders I have work perfectly because there's no moving parts. The hens must put their heads completely inside to eat, so there's less waste. I fill it up all the way. As the chickens eat the food from the bottom, more from the top & sides fall through. I hang them so little critters don't climb up into it & so the chickens do not sit on top (& poop). Not sure if little birds would find a way into it or not. I made smaller ones for the chicks, since they're easy & practically free to make. Below is a smaller chick feeder made from a nut container. I later added a handle to hang it. I cut the female end off the bottom to make a lip for the front. PS- Neither of these ideas were originally mine. The treadle plans were found here on Backyard chickens & the feeder was from

.

Oh, love this! I've seen those pipe feeders around a lot lately. I do wonder if they would discourage sparrows! I'm not sure how well they would work with my big flock, unless I did something like below. My girls get pretty mean at the feed dish.

(Picture Credit) Thanks for the ideas! Great post!

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Good Saturday evening everyone. I am feeling bored and lonely, lol. Its my own fault though. To everyone who quoted/commented on my injury piçture, Thanks for the Empathy/sympathy. I can't put pressure on it yet so am pretty much being lazy! Going t try t get some chicken time in tomorrow, my husband wouldn't let me outside today,like he could have stopped me had I wanted to go. Doc said no shoes for at least a week and I have no way of keeping chicken poo off my bandages so I'm relying on my stepkids and nephew to do the majority of the chores. I'm hoping I can get my foot into my boots tomorrow there are three coops that need cleaned! If I have to I'll wrap this thing in Walmart bags, lol. Unless someone wants to come help me for a day or two.
Oh well just checking in, loving all the fluffy doggies and birdies. Was wondering about peacocks/peahens. Do they sound like a cat screaming when they are seeking a mate?

If you have access to you tube, search peafowl calling. Its pretty loud! More like a screaming honk kinda

Tomorrow is the day my EE eggs are supposed to hatch. I don't here any peeps coming from them. I hope when the GFI popped and the temp. got down to 80 that it wasn't too cold but it isn't looking too good.

hatching vibes

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

@Minminme I hope your foot heals quickly! Ouch!!! Your pictures make me cringe.

@chick rookie thanks for posting pictures of the sales! I really need to make it out to Rockville sometime to see what cattle are going for. I think we've found buyers for all but a 1/2 of beef! Now they just need to put on another 100 lbs or so.

Since everyone is talking about winter plans already, I've just got a few more birds to be rid of and some minor modifications to the inside of my coop then I should be set. Oh and figure out a way to heat their water this year; I don't think I'll be running out with hot water several times a day like I did last year! I don't mind the snow or the cold to much (LOVE my carharts!) it's what to do with the kids while I'm outside that's the problem!


ETA: glad I'm not the only one up at 3 am!

I have to admit I doze off in my chair a lot. I am already looking into another stock tank & heater myself for the pigs.

Quote:

Love this!

Well my DH and the boys started work on our LF winter coop yesterday. We are converting our shed that sits right next to our 55'X70' fenced in garden so they have a nice big space for the winter. I am going to put all my bantams in the coop the big girls are using now. and they will all get to "free range" in the garden over the winter.

Here's the start of the project:

An inside view:

We are going to put a run/tunnel on this side that leads to the garden. The pop door will be towards the middle.


One question: Should we mow down the garden, or just let the chickens "mow" it down for us? We have already started letting them in and they seem to love finding all the treats.

But some of the weeds are pretty high, I just figured they would all die back eventually and then the girls can take care of the rest.
Hope everyone has a great Sunday!!!

I would let them do it, unless you plan to turn the garden before winter. Will give them some great hiding spots for a while too. They won't mind if you do turn it tho

Should make a fantastic coop!

Quote:
They can free range together, but not be confined together. Hens can fly and outrun a pekin in a flash. If they are behind a fence, they may not be able to escape. I would talk to other call duck owners, and find out their experiences with chicken mingling.

Quote:

I keep my original geese every year unless there is a serious flaw, or behavioral problem. My oldest trio of white chinese will turn 3 in March. I also keep Brown chinese, and Embden. I rehomed one Embden gander, way too aggressive, even for me. He went to be a flock Gander at another home, and left with one goose hen. They have a large horse pasture and manage a small chicken/duck flock. This was also someone I know well that had fox issues, not anymore!

The vet, Kyle was the perfect home for this years gosliings. He raises poultry to go to market every year. Hundreds at a time, and rotates his pastures. They are truly free ranged, well fed and very happy birds. Everything is behind electric poultry netting, very impressive operation. Arial hawk attacks were his only issue, hard to net several 10s of acres and still make a profit. My geese have stopped his hawk attacks! He is now seeing zero predator losses

It was a win/win for both of us, and paid for my piglets, and cash to put towards calves. I went from around 40 geese down to 16. I sell a started gosling very reasonable, really enjoy handraising them. He plans to winter them in his barn when his flocks go to market. He will begin hatching in the spring by the adult hens. Geese can live up to 20 years depending on the breed.

Okay... wait. @jchny2000
Are you saying that GEESE deter hawks and fox???????

@Leahs Mom yes! Want to note that most of these goslings were young adult sized, nearly as big as their parents. Also depends on the breed of goose, some are docile and passive. I keep Chinese and Embden. I also sent 3 adult gander with the group.
I don't have hawk attacks. I do see falcon take a sparrow on occasion, but at tree level. My main chicken coop is no longer covered thanks to last winter and a big tree limb. If hawks fly over, the geese will shriek, flutter, spread their wings and cluster as a group.. The roosters all growl, everyone duck and chicken wise runs under the bushes. My guineas chatter, turkey toms strut and gobble.. hawks fly off. When I hear the geese, roosters and guinea, I am looking for a "visitor".
A mature group of ganders, and mother geese will attack a fox, especially in a large flock setting. Geese bite down, twist and can tear skin. Their wings really hurt when they flog you! Geese bite, pin and then flog a predator. Guinea fowl will also attack in a large group, and actually dive bomb them! I have seen it myself. Goslings are no match for fox, I lost 2 last year to a fox before my neighbor got him. But I only had 3 adult geese, and 1 gander. The fox scaled the fence and entered the pen. DD saw it, and couldn't get to them in time. That's when I added more geese, and moved my coops together. I have seen a few this year, but between the adult geese, turkey and guinea, they run it off quick. My grow up pen is centered between the other birds for this reason. (and comingling with adults)
Coyote are a different story, it would be as bad as a dog attack. Most poultry and waterfowl don't stand a chance with a coyote.
Aside from loving all those type birds, they earn their keep helping to protect the ducks and chickens. I couldn't safely free range without them.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Anyone ever seen a backwards barred rock?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

What a beauty! I agree, she has a fayomi look to her.

Quote: Ooooooo! I love the english orps too, thats exciting!!

 

[Minminme]

[COLOR=008000]Leahs Mom[/COLOR] [COLOR=8B4513]~Haha I had forgotten about that one. So clever! Thanks for sharing.[/COLOR] [COLOR=8B4513]Chickens-- on video or in person are very funny creatures. I'm glad that chicken therapy helped you through a rough time. [/COLOR] [rule]@chick rookie [COLOR=8B4513] ~ You have such a great farm family! Your photos look like they should belong in a children's book.[/COLOR] [COLOR=8B4513]Good luck with your BJG's hatch. Bonbon had an early bird hatch yesterday, and I don't think any hatched today, but they're not due yet.[/COLOR] @number9 [COLOR=8B4513]~ Wishing you a good hatch of your EE eggs! [/COLOR] [COLOR=8B4513]Hatching Humor . . .[/COLOR] [rule]@BryLT3 [COLOR=8B4513]~ Please work on a breeding program to keep those cute little pigs from growing larger than a miniature size.[/COLOR] [COLOR=8B4513] They would be so perfect if they were cat sized.[/COLOR] [rule]@EurekaChic [COLOR=8B4513]~ The weather is cool; there's no need for central air. [/COLOR] [COLOR=8B4513]Hope things improve for you! [/COLOR] [rule]@Minminme [COLOR=8B4513]~ Does everyone in W. Virginia cut grass in flip-flops? hahaha Just teasing you since you've made W.Va. jokes before. I am relieved and amazed that your accident wasn't much worse!! Best wishes for a speedy recovery. [/COLOR]

actually M2H they don't...they pull their mowers behind 4wheelers. But they do ride their 4wheelers with flip flops. Lmbo. Hehehe. Thanks for well wishes.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Quote: They are beauties! I hope to have the LF someday. Before I do, I want a coop/pen ready specific for them.
I love your Orp list! I really like the breed, the roos are never people aggressive. My girls are sweet, friendly and dependable layers.
And the NNs, I just love them! Nice big eggs, sweet hens. I just put both my girls with my BLP roo Penelope tonight.
My tolbunt pen now has 4 hens and the roo, swapped a lawn tractor for a prefab coop, just for them.

Thank you sallyinindiana! We went and bought our first chicks today! 2 rir and 2 white laced wyandotte. We cant wait to get started and start caring for them! Our girls are sooo excited!

Exciting! You will be very pleased. @SallyinIndiana keeps lovely birds, and has a kind heart too. I have a few of hers here and they are awesome.

Just got my auto waterer installer! I just dry fitted all the fittings and surprisingly most of them are not leaking! I just need to glue the water cup fittings together as that is the only place they are leaking. I'll work on getting pictures taken but there are already birds that have taken to them! Tomorrow will be the test on how it handles the heat. I will eventually build an insulated box to out the bucket in and possibly insulate the line feeding each pen. I just don't want the chickens to peck at the insulation. But overall, it works great!

I was thinking using "heat tape" on the pvc to keep the pipe warm in winter. I remember someone posted last year to be sure the heat tape touches the cups also. Maybe aquarium heaters in the water source, I no longer have fish. I still haven't done mine since we are building new coops.

Okay, y'all, as is my usual habit anymore, instead of doing some homework today, I did something more interesting and drew up some basic plans for the duck coop.

Any duck people want to give me some pointers here as for how I can improve it?

Here is the floor plan. The coop itself will be about 6x4 feet. Dashes through the walls are windows and angled lines are doors. The rectangle at the lower left corner is approximately where the kick board to keep the bedding in will be. I was going to just use shavings like I have with the chicken coop. The rectangle along the right side of it is what I call the duck shelf; basically, it's like a community nest box if the ducks decide to lay in there. I put the windows where I did so that the area underneath the shelf would kind of be dark and enticing for nesting. Not sure if that's what ducks look for, though?




The front wall. That big, nondescript rectangle to the left is the human door. The square at the middle right is a window. I also drew in my idea for the duck shelf. I was thinking a 2x4 flat side up across the coop, about 1-1/2 feet off the floor. The shelf itself I want to be hinged, so I can just lift it up and get the eggs out of there without having to crawl my way underneath. The shelf will be at a slight angle (probably less than is shown) so that if they get up there and poop, it's less inclined to get into the hinges and mess things up. Oh, and that really thin, hard to see line across the top is a rough idea of where the vent opening will be on this side. I don't know yet if the roof will be gable-style or just flat and angled.




The shorter end walls. The one on the left has the pop door, approximately 1-1/2 feet by 1-1/2 feet. No windows because it will probably be facing toward a building anyway. The one on the right has one window and kind of shows the elevation between the front and back of the duck shelf (once again, it probably won't be quite that steep).



The back wall won't have any windows or doors, so I didn't bother to draw it.


Here is kind of how I picture the yard, not to scale. Black lines are walls and gray lines are fences, with the fence along the bottom showing where the chicken yard is. That brown square is a covered area so that I can put their feed outside instead of in the coop. The green circles are where trees are and the blue circle is about where their kiddie pool will be. There are two gates (the angled lines along the fences) because if we don't put that back gate in, there isn't going to be an easy way to get back into the woods beyond there. I don't know the measurements for sure, but I would estimate the yard at around 30 feet by 15 feet. We're going to try to cover it with bird netting to keep the ducks from flying out.





Please, pick it apart.

I'm designing this from a 'chicken person with no duck experience' point of view, so I need all the criticism I can get.

The bedding material in the coop, shavings may be ok.. IF you don't offer water inside. If you do, use a container with a screen top to place the waterer on. Every time a duck drinks, half of it goes out the sides of their beaks. They also have to dunk their heads as part of the grooming process. Sand, then shavings may be a better idea. Will the floor be dirt? That for me is a better choice. Deep litter is a definite plus with good drainage.
Everything else you shared looks great!!

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Good nite everyone! off to bed.

 

[Mother2Hens]

It was me, i used the very heavy clear plastic car mats from Wal-Mart. It absolutely worked on the sparrows! I didn't test it on the starlings since I had already managed to block them out of the run. I hope it keeps them out too but at the very least you will LIMIT the wild birds in there.

I also tried the treadle feeders and was not a fan. I had an issue with the wood warping in the humidity and the little hinges the plans had me use kept unscrewing every few days so the treadle wouldn't open the feeder. I would recommend buying something over building something, hopefully a purchased product would have those kinks ironed out. The birds did figure both the treadle feeder and the plastic over the pop door quickly. I still have the plastic up and will continue to use it.

Input about Ideas and Products
It's so helpful to hear about different members' experiences using ideas and products that have been discussed on our thread! There are always factors that may make something work for one person, but not another-- and it's also interesting to learn about the reasons why. I always thought those treadle feeders sounded perfect, but I hadn't thought about bantams or mechanical issues. I haven't had a need for "mud flaps" protecting my coop from starlings trying to enter, but I remember thinking that @ChickCrazed 's method was ingenious! @Faraday40 --
Love the chick feeders! I've got to get to bed, but will looking at those more closely tomorrow. I think that @chick rookie made some basic feeders (not with pvc) out of plastic coffee containers and posted pics. It's great to see all of the creative ideas!