MICHIGAN MUSCOVY OWNERS HELP PLEASE!

[Fawn and Fam]

PLEASE post pictures of your Muscovy house and specify what animals it is used for. I need to build a house asap that will only be used for Muscovys. I know how to build a chicken coop but have no idea how to do a house for Muscovys. It seems like it is much simpler, the few pictures I've seen on BYC are mostly shelter structures and not enclosed houses. It would be wonderful if it were simpler since I am also building a separate chicken coop. I do however want to meet their needs properly. I want to know how people here in Michigan provide shelter because of our cold winters. I do know they need as much ventilation as chickens, that is about it. Thank you!!!

 

[Going Quackers]

Not even an American lol but i know winter, i'm in Canada so i think i'd be safe to answer...

I do have a building it's like a mini barn, they do need ventilation, like any other poultry do.

I can try and get some updated shots of my barn later on if you like it's nothing special... , i also have a stall addition out the side which comprises of three stalls... one holds my 9wk olds, one my other drake and the third(no door) is holding a broody lol



This is a build in progress shot... this is the front facing back... both side has those windows you see on the ground and off to the left is where we blew out the wall and added 3 stalls ....



A side finished shot, it's sided with old barn boards... it's elevated on industrial skids so solid wood floor and then we have horse mats down...

I need some new shots, which i can do if your interested later on... this is a full walk in building... three windows(all opening, backed with hardware cloth) and the their is venting on each end, i think you can see the gap in the build in progress shot at the roof line back wall... it's copied on the opposite side...

 

[ducklover87]

I live in northern NY like 10 mins from the Canadian border and we have some pretty bad winters too, but I've found that as long as they have something draft free they are fine. Of course lots of ventilation as you stated. Also with being in Michigan I'd go a little bigger with your plans because I'm sure there's going to be some days where its storming horribly or ridiculously cold. Sometimes its even for long periods and when I get weather like that I keep them in just to be safe. Just because I've never seen them go back into their coop to get warm even if they are out in negative degree weather. I also give mine a heat lamp but I had a duck freeze to death one time and I'm deathly afraid of it happening again. It was a horrible experience for me, but its up to you of course if you want a heat lamp. I don't have muscovies but I know they are more able to fly then domestics so I'm not sure if you would want to put a roost in there or not. I'm sure they would be fine without one. I know Muscovy go broody a lot too so maybe a place to put your broodies if you want any babies that is.

 

[Going Quackers]

Yes, making sure it's roomy matters, 'scovies are big ducks plus real bad weather, they may not come out in -30C or worse mine don't, i give lettuce and ensure they have staple feed/water...

 

[Fawn and Fam]

Thank you both. My build won't be pretty, it'll be practical. We will use whatever materials we have on hand first, both for economical and environmental reasons. I don't mind if anyone's pics are "nothing special," I want to see them all

.

We plan on having 2 hens and a drake and then raising the babies for meat (if I can possibly bring myself to allow that). We are very much into eating "healthy" meat- we only eat venison. This will give us another option. I wish we could do the same w/ chickens but a rooster would be too loud where we live. What size should my house be if I only plan on the 3 adults and the babies till their big enough to "harvest?"

I think they normally don't have babies in the winter and don't know how old they are before harvesting (I prefer that word over the other). Would I only have the 3 in the winter then?

@ducklover87 if possible could you post a pic(s) of your duck house?

@Going Quackers, yes I would love to see your stall addition 'cause I can't envision it. It sounds like I would definitely would need something like that.

 

[ducklover87]

Going Quakers would be more helpful with size as she has muscovies. I don't have any pics of my duck house but I can explain it for you. Its really not much and I have plans for a bigger and way better house for my ducks. I live with my bf and his dad in my bfs grandmas old house. Its being given to his dad eventually. When she used to live here she had a bunch of chickens, not sure why but she did. Like I think she had about 100 chickens. So I use the old coop she had. But the way its set up is there's a coop then a lean to sort of thing. It is built off the side of the coop. So along with that side their is 2 more and a roof and the front is wide open. I fixed the holes that were in the sides and I put 1/4" wire mesh on the front. Well half the front the other half I have a big plastic dog house that I have facing inside the coop just to give them a little bit more space. Its a big dog house so nothing can get over it. During the winter I put a tarp over most of the front to block out the cold. The whole space is 10'x10'. Its not much but it works. I only use the 3 sided part because the coops roof is falling in and I didnt want to risk it.