Visual example of my mental wind analysis:
Jumping Ducks! Need to finish the duck house (pic included)
- Thread starter duckiesrule
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- #12
Well, we do occasionally get wind, but I've heard of those Wyoming winds and New England doesn't have much to compare. I will take some extra precautions, but I'm not too worried about it.
So far so good on our New England duck house roof. I did set it up so that there is a small gap on the north side of the roof. South winds can blow right through, and north winds mostly blow over.
I put in a drop ceiling of clear plastic panels that can be closed for winter or opened for summer. It keeps much dust out of the duck house, too.
I covered all gaps with hardware cloth. As you may have seen, we recently had a discussion about hw cloth. The kind I use is metal, half inch openings. There is "hardware cloth" being sold that is plastic and I don't see how it would stand up to a determined predator.
The door, made by my neighbor who did much of the work on the house (I got to do the flooring and hw cloth and the rest of the complex), is a Dutch door. Top and bottom have hasps and keyed locks. That's the service door.
I put in a drop ceiling of clear plastic panels that can be closed for winter or opened for summer. It keeps much dust out of the duck house, too.
I covered all gaps with hardware cloth. As you may have seen, we recently had a discussion about hw cloth. The kind I use is metal, half inch openings. There is "hardware cloth" being sold that is plastic and I don't see how it would stand up to a determined predator.
The door, made by my neighbor who did much of the work on the house (I got to do the flooring and hw cloth and the rest of the complex), is a Dutch door. Top and bottom have hasps and keyed locks. That's the service door.
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- Thread starter
- #14
Yes, I have taken your advice on hardware cloth, I bought quite a bit. All of the upper open areas will be covered and I will be burying it as far as I can into New England soil to create a skirt around the bottom.
I like the idea of a Dutch door to create more openings. The upper part of the front will have a cover in the winter, I haven't yet decided whether to keep it attached during the summer and prop it open for ventilation or just to wait until winter to attach it.
I like the idea of a Dutch door to create more openings. The upper part of the front will have a cover in the winter, I haven't yet decided whether to keep it attached during the summer and prop it open for ventilation or just to wait until winter to attach it.
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- #15
I have put the door onto the house and the ducks have moved in!
The tarp is over the roof because the metal panels still need to be installed. The electric fence you see is currently useless because my 6 week olds can still get through it! A duck door also needs to be installed in that side wall to the left.
New problem: the ducks freak out when I open the door! When I close it and peek in on them they settle down almost right away and lay down in the hay, but when I open the door (even when I announce that I am coming), they flip out and dart around and one even tried to fly (she only got a few inches off the ground). Is there something I can do to lessen their fear at the door being opened? They have never been closed in like this before, and we have never opened a door directly into their home (they were in a baby pool in the middle of the garage before). Maybe a window in the door so they can see me coming? I didn't want to make any lower openings because I didnt want predators harassing them through any hardware cloth that I would have to install.
Don't worry, all those upper openings are covered in hardware cloth. I used a staple gun because I bought really tight hardware cloth, but now I'm thinking that the staples might not be strong enough?
The tarp is over the roof because the metal panels still need to be installed. The electric fence you see is currently useless because my 6 week olds can still get through it! A duck door also needs to be installed in that side wall to the left.
New problem: the ducks freak out when I open the door! When I close it and peek in on them they settle down almost right away and lay down in the hay, but when I open the door (even when I announce that I am coming), they flip out and dart around and one even tried to fly (she only got a few inches off the ground). Is there something I can do to lessen their fear at the door being opened? They have never been closed in like this before, and we have never opened a door directly into their home (they were in a baby pool in the middle of the garage before). Maybe a window in the door so they can see me coming? I didn't want to make any lower openings because I didnt want predators harassing them through any hardware cloth that I would have to install.
Don't worry, all those upper openings are covered in hardware cloth. I used a staple gun because I bought really tight hardware cloth, but now I'm thinking that the staples might not be strong enough?
- Thread starter
- #16
Do people leave a light on all night with the ducks or not? What are their sleeping patterns? My ducks are almost 7 weeks old.
They go through sleep wake patterns during the night. We do not leave lights on in their houses. The house is new and this the door opening is new, they will with time get use to it. Staples are good to hold in place, but are easy to rip out. Washes with screws ran through them or sandwiched between layers of wood is better.
HAHAHA! That totally happened to me!!! I had 3 in my classroom. The VERY FIRST day, they jumped out of the baby pool and tried to follow my class to lunch. So... we reinforced the pool with poster boards.... Well, the very next week, the ducks jumped over the poster boards too! We finally gave up and let them wonder around the classroom with us. It just meant lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots of baby wipes! HA! Funny!We have (now only) 3 runner ducks that are 5 weeks old. I have them in a baby pool on top of a card table with their food, water and a heat lamp. I extended the height of the sides of the baby pool with hardware cloth around the sides.
Yesterday we had put 2 of the ducks in their pool and were going back for the 3rd. We turned around and only 1 duck was still in the pool. The other had jumped out! Up and over at least 8" of hardware cloth and down at least 3 feet. Unscathed.
Today, we opened the garage doors (where this set up is held) and then turned around, all 3 had jumped out and waddled out of the garage.
Furthermore, we learned that at least one of them can jump up at step that is at least a foot and a half tall.
I guess that house really needs to be finished!
The insulation is now covered with plyboard and we are in the midst of putting linoleum on the floor. It needs a human-sized door in the middle there and it has hardware cloth over the rest of the open areas.
It's lookin' good!
I'd take a slim piece of wood (a batten) and place over any end of hardware cloth and screw it down. Those staples can be pulled out by a determined raccoon. They don't have to get much of a corner pried up before they can squeeze in.
No lights at night at my place. Especially if there are close neighbors, the ducks will be quieter if it is dark. If there is enough light, they will party all night.
On the door, just announce you are there from the outside. open and close the door slowly, move calmly, and they will get used to it. Change is never good to a duck, but they will adapt to the inevitable.
I'd take a slim piece of wood (a batten) and place over any end of hardware cloth and screw it down. Those staples can be pulled out by a determined raccoon. They don't have to get much of a corner pried up before they can squeeze in.
No lights at night at my place. Especially if there are close neighbors, the ducks will be quieter if it is dark. If there is enough light, they will party all night.
On the door, just announce you are there from the outside. open and close the door slowly, move calmly, and they will get used to it. Change is never good to a duck, but they will adapt to the inevitable.
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