Okay, so I've caught the poultry bug and adore my chickens so want to add ducks now.
However I live in rainy Washington State and don't want to mix my chickens and ducks. I have to pen my animals because of predation. I do not have a pond.
How can I set up a duck area cheap? I have plenty of space, access to water and electricity, but very little .....ahem....funds.
I think I have a baker who would buy duck eggs from me down the road should I raise some duck eggs, so there is a financial method in my madness here.
I do have access to a myriad of recycled building materials, pallets, dog crates, etc., from my packrat DH that will not throw anything away and my years of rescuing dogs and taking on donated cast off stuff along with the donated cast off dog. I realize I'd need to buy fencing so suggestions for cheap fencing that contains ducks is one of my main questions.
I think I would just like a pair and keep it small scale and was thinking of using a dog crate as their "coop". Ideas on a cheap, dumpable mini-pond? Is sand a good choice for ducks? Does their enclosure need a top to keep them from flying out?
Photos of your inexpensive or expensive but totally cool duck enclosures/houses/etc. would be awesome!
Am I crazy to think I can keep ducks inexpensively? I have a LOT of slugs (did I mention I live in SW WA?) Ever see a banana slug? They choke my chickens. Some are as large or larger than a man's thumb. And I think I have enough of them to keep a pair of ducks busy for quite some time.
However I live in rainy Washington State and don't want to mix my chickens and ducks. I have to pen my animals because of predation. I do not have a pond.
How can I set up a duck area cheap? I have plenty of space, access to water and electricity, but very little .....ahem....funds.
I think I have a baker who would buy duck eggs from me down the road should I raise some duck eggs, so there is a financial method in my madness here.
I do have access to a myriad of recycled building materials, pallets, dog crates, etc., from my packrat DH that will not throw anything away and my years of rescuing dogs and taking on donated cast off stuff along with the donated cast off dog. I realize I'd need to buy fencing so suggestions for cheap fencing that contains ducks is one of my main questions.
I think I would just like a pair and keep it small scale and was thinking of using a dog crate as their "coop". Ideas on a cheap, dumpable mini-pond? Is sand a good choice for ducks? Does their enclosure need a top to keep them from flying out?
Photos of your inexpensive or expensive but totally cool duck enclosures/houses/etc. would be awesome!
Am I crazy to think I can keep ducks inexpensively? I have a LOT of slugs (did I mention I live in SW WA?) Ever see a banana slug? They choke my chickens. Some are as large or larger than a man's thumb. And I think I have enough of them to keep a pair of ducks busy for quite some time.