Location, location location....

[Chadslost]

Thanks for all the welcomes everyone!

I’m getting ready to break ground on a duck house and run and had a couple of questions dealing with location I was hoping to get some advice on?

The best location on my property is located directly under a beautiful oak tree. It is shaded all day (we get up to 110+ in the summer), it’s next to an existing fence I can build on from which will save on materials, and finally it has a fantastic view which I’m sure the ducks will appreciate! My concern is if the roots of the oak get wet regularly during the summer months it can kill the tree and the run would also be located a slope.

Here is my current plan:

• Build their house (4’x8’ for 4-6 ducks) directly against the tree on a level mini deck with a water collections system under it to direct the excess water, from their waterer and used for cleaning, to fruit trees and vines down slope.
• For the run (12’x12’) I was planning on using good quality oak mulch on the ground and just turning it a few times a week and adding on top as needed. I would use a coarser mulch on bottom and a finer mulch on top and I would place their watering stations on level mini platforms with a drainage system down the hill. I am also planning on putting in a 150 gallon pool at the very bottom of the run which will be surrounded by a deck.

My questions are:

• Do you think the precautions I’m planning with water will eliminate most of the moisture? It is a very dry climate here so a little moisture will evaporate before reaching the roots.
• Is it ok for their run to be on a slope?
• Does my mulch plan sound ok?

Thanks for any advice on this!!

 

[SolarDuck]

Sounds like a pretty good plan to me! Others might have some advice but sounds pretty good. Yes their run can be on a slope, my yard is slightly sloped. Just make sure you get a breed that can't fly if you want them to stay in that area, that beautiful view will definitely make them want to fly down to that big lake!