Mobile Duck House?

[Alabama ee]

That looks Awesome!

here are a couple we will be putting to use for 2013
This one shows a chicken ramp, easily switched to steps hinged at the top to flip up when moving to a new spot, or a wider ramp



This is my favorite. Next boxes for chickens, for ducks we dont build the nest boxes

 

[Alabama ee]

That is a great idea.

This is not my duck house - I ended up building a larger, stationary house - but I considered building something like this. It is based on the mobile duck house discussed in one of my favorite gardening books, Four Season Harvest.

http://todoentiempo.wordpress.com/2009/05/31/building-duckingham-palace/

 

[Alabama ee]

Durng the day, we have stray dogs that like to eat duck and chicken. At night, raccoons and coyotes are a big concern.

Quote:

I use mobile duck houses. They are so messy and I am lazy. It works out great! I never have to clean a pen, they get a clean area every night and they fertilize my grass and eat the weeds.

I use chain link dog kennels, then wrap the bottom and cover the top with wire so nothing can reach or climb in and the ducks can't stick their heads out. I also have a 10' x 20' tarp that goes over the top and partially covers the sides. It's worked out well for me. It's not pretty, though. My husband calls it my duck shanty town. I have to keep them either on the property behind the house or over behind the trees.

I've never had anything dig under. I do have dogs, though, that seem to keep the racoons and foxes away. I went on vacation for a week earlier this month, so two of my dogs for at my parents' house and the other one was kept locked up except when he was let out to go potty. I had what I assume was a racoon try to get in then. They tried to tear through the wire. Luckily they weren't successful. That's the only time in the 7 years that I've lived here that it's happened. I've lost one duck to an eagle and that's it.

So, it probably depends on where you live and how many racoons, etc. you have in your area.

 

[ChristineR]

We have raised wire bottom cages we used for call ducks when we kept them. They are used for broody cages, grow outs ect now. Worked fine as they had pools and solid floors to rest on as well.

Tarps here wouldnt hold up to add any shelter at all. Sun and wind would destroy them in no time.

Yes, I have to replace the tarps every fall. The wind and the weight of the rain wears them down, but they last through spring and are still good enough to provide shade in the summer. I only have 10 ducks, so it works for me. It wouldn't be a good solution if you had a large flock, but for someone that just has a few backyard ducks, it may work.

 

[Alabama ee]

It is a great idea.

Yes, I have to replace the tarps every fall. The wind and the weight of the rain wears them down, but they last through spring and are still good enough to provide shade in the summer. I only have 10 ducks, so it works for me. It wouldn't be a good solution if you had a large flock, but for someone that just has a few backyard ducks, it may work.

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

if you can find green house tarps or billboard material those hold up for a very long time. Makes them worth the price to not replace. Many here in FL use them for wind/rain cover.

 

[ChristineR]

if you can find green house tarps or billboard material those hold up for a very long time. Makes them worth the price to not replace. Many here in FL use them for wind/rain cover.

What are the green house tarps?

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

hhmm they might be a southern or Florida thing. They are used for additional shade or complete shade over greenhouse trusses here. I see ads for them every so often as well as used billboard material.

 

[ChristineR]

Hmm...might be what I would call shade cloth?

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

no we have shade cloth, sold everywhere from TSC to Home Depot and lowes. This is green house specific in use and I am guessing not found all over. Think heavy, UV protected almost canvas like. Cool stuff if you can find some. Then again used billboards are cool too because they last for ever.