location of duck pen

[indianaducks]

I'm planning on setting up my duck coop and pen this weekend if the rain holds off. I'm trying to decide exactly where I want it. It will be a small duck house inside a chain link dog run. The dog run will have hardware cloth along the sides as an apron and I'm leaning towards using it on the roof as well, at least until next winter. In terms of predators, we have pretty much all the land and flying kinds (minus bears)
So my options are,
1. partial tree cover, but up against a highly wooded area. Still within view of the house, but off to the side.
2. further out in the open, but no tree cover

I have 3 indoor dogs (labs) that would hopefully help keep some predators away, but I regularly see hawks. And I've seen foxes and know we have coyotes and bobcats, as well as the smaller predators. I guess I'm just trying to decide if its better to be out in the open so I can see them better and away from the wooded fence line. Or have some tree cover but risk being up against wooded fence line.

Either way I am planning to do the best I can to make it fort knox. Thoughts?

 

[Yardmom]

Make sure they have some shade, but predator wise out in the open would be better.

 

[3bird]

I think out in the open is good, but they will need shade as @Yardmom advised and obviously protection from above (or for climbing predators). We have a shingle roof over our run which serves as shade and predator proofing. It is good to also give them cover if you let them free range outside of the run.

I'm a little unclear as to your plan with the hardware cloth. We use a predator apron around the outside of the run, which is hardware cloth laid on the ground, staked down and then covered with dirt. The walls of our run are also hardware cloth. Are you planning to do both. I would not consider most dog runs as being predator proof for poultry.

 

[indianaducks]

I think out in the open is good, but they will need shade as @Yardmom advised and obviously protection from above (or for climbing predators). We have a shingle roof over our run which serves as shade and predator proofing. It is good to also give them cover if you let them free range outside of the run.

I'm a little unclear as to your plan with the hardware cloth. We use a predator apron around the outside of the run, which is hardware cloth laid on the ground, staked down and then covered with dirt. The walls of our run are also hardware cloth. Are you planning to do both. I would not consider most dog runs as being predator proof for poultry.

View attachment 2564998

I was planning on having the hardware cloth essentially be an "L" shape so i have a foot or so on the ground and then 2 ft or so up the sides of the run. I can add more as needed. And I will add shade as suggested. I appreciate all of the help a lot.

 

[3bird]

I was planning on having the hardware cloth essentially be an "L" shape so i have a foot or so on the ground and then 2 ft or so up the sides of the run. I can add more as needed. And I will add shade as suggested. I appreciate all of the help a lot.

Depending on the diameter of the openings on the dog run, many predators that can be lethal to ducks may be able to get through. I'd suggest hardware cloth all the way up. Good luck and keep us posted. Feel free to reach out with questions anytime!

 

[indianaducks]

Depending on the diameter of the openings on the dog run, many predators that can be lethal to ducks may be able to get through. I'd suggest hardware cloth all the way up. Good luck and keep us posted. Feel free to reach out with questions anytime!

Ok good to know. Their coop inside the run is fully hardware clothed. But I'll see how it goes with the dog run portion. Thank you!

 

[Ratchnick]

Placement is very important. I put my run in deep shade and its terrible. It never gets enough sun to dry the bedding out. Idealy you want morning and evening sun and something that will cast a shadow during the heat of the day. Also ducks don't care for cold wind in the winter. Of course you want them close to the house for conveince and predators.

 

[indianaducks]

Placement is very important. I put my run in deep shade and its terrible. It never gets enough sun to dry the bedding out. Idealy you want morning and evening sun and something that will cast a shadow during the heat of the day. Also ducks don't care for cold wind in the winter. Of course you want them close to the house for conveince and predators.

Thank you! I hadn't thought through all of these things. I appreciate all of the suggestions. I really like the idea of the sun to help dry it out.