Need plans for duck coop:flock of 12

[JackyD]

New to raising ducks. We are on 3 flat acres close to Richmond Va. No pond or stream, must provide water from well. Can devote a full acre of grass field to ducks. Need to. Construct a coop and watering area for flock

 

[3bird]

Welcome to BYC! We're excited to have you hear and excited to see your build. There are so many possibilities! What are your top priorities? What kind of ducks? What sort of predators are in the area? Is the property wooded?

Big picture thoughts (these are just our thoughts and not a comprehensive list):

• Figure out how you are going to water year-round.
• Seriously consider a predator proof, covered run attached to your duckhouse.
• Make a plan for being able to separate ducks in both the run and the house.
• Do you have an outbuilding where you can keep feed, straw, etc.? If not, consider including that in your build.

Looking forward to seeing what you come up with!

 

[JackyD]

Welcome to BYC! We're excited to have you hear and excited to see your build. There are so many possibilities! What are your top priorities? What kind of ducks? What sort of predators are in the area? Is the property wooded?

Big picture thoughts (these are just our thoughts and not a comprehensive list):

• Figure out how you are going to water year-round.
• Seriously consider a predator proof, covered run attached to your duckhouse.
• Make a plan for being able to separate ducks in both the run and the house.
• Do you have an outbuilding where you can keep feed, straw, etc.? If not, consider including that in your build.

Looking forward to seeing what you come up with!

Welcome to BYC! We're excited to have you hear and excited to see your build. There are so many possibilities! What are your top priorities? What kind of ducks? What sort of predators are in the area? Is the property wooded?

Big picture thoughts (these are just our thoughts and not a comprehensive list):

• Figure out how you are going to water year-round.
• Seriously consider a predator proof, covered run attached to your duckhouse.
• Make a plan for being able to separate ducks in both the run and the house.
• Do you have an outbuilding where you can keep feed, straw, etc.? If not, consider including that in your build.

Looking forward to seeing what you come up with!

Currently have a breeding pair of albinos want to add khakis and build flock to 12. No woods or pond, only 1 acre flat grass field. Considering a moveable coop and fence allowing 30x30 ft grass area outside coop for daytime grazing. Move coop every other week. Can provide water with garden hose over entire acre

 

[Flyinbolts]

30x30 will only work if you move them daily and they'll still likely kill the grass from trample and eating.

I keep my 16 - soon to be 18, max 20 in an 8x12 (8 ft tall) and plan to add on another 8x8 section for over-wintering to keep deep straw in. I like to let them have a pond/water in the bigger part which is why I'm adding on a 'dry' area.

Outside they have probably a 60x30 chunk of land which they've eaten bare and will be expanded as soon as the swamp dries out a little so I can get the stakes in deep.

 

[TomCahalan]

Currently have a breeding pair of albinos want to add khakis and build flock to 12.

Domestic ducks do not form breeding pairs. Right now you have a drake with a harem consisting of one duck. She is at risk of overmating, which can kill her. If you add a "pair" of khakis you will have one drake with a harem consisting of two ducks, and another drake that is bullied and miserable.

If you have a flock of 12 total, that should be 1 or 2 drakes along with 10-11 ducks. Have you figured out how you are going to deal with the extra drakes that hatch?

 

[3bird]

With our six ducks (large breed), we have a 16'x8' run with a 4'x8' elevated duckhouse. The run is covered, and about a third of it has cobbles where their water is. The rest is straw. They then have a larger pasture around the run (~30'x50' but it includes the duckhouse, compost and one fenceline on an angle, so it's not really 1500 sq ft) and an adjacent pasture (~25'x50') that is even larger. We are in Maine, so we deal with snow and cold. I would see a "tractor" or movable run being an addition to the permanent run.

As @TomCahalan says above, you do really need to have a plan for your drakes. We have kept 2 drakes with five hens, and it worked okay with management, but I could never see a higher ratio of drakes to hens working unless you were prepared to separate them and provide appropriate housing for all year-round. We have a 4'x8' section of our run partitioned, and that works well for our drake (sometimes with his favorite girl) at night during the April to August season. We also have an "annex" built off one side of the duckhouse that allows for additional separation if needed. While it has happened a few times, we try very hard to never fully remove a bird from the rest of the flock to treat an issue/injury or provide for recovery. Instead, we like to keep the bird with the flock but separate, which, in our experience, makes re-introduction possible.

What are you thinking of in terms of pool?

 

[JackyD]

With our six ducks (large breed), we have a 16'x8' run with a 4'x8' elevated duckhouse. The run is covered, and about a third of it has cobbles where their water is. The rest is straw. They then have a larger pasture around the run (~30'x50' but it includes the duckhouse, compost and one fenceline on an angle, so it's not really 1500 sq ft) and an adjacent pasture (~25'x50') that is even larger. We are in Maine, so we deal with snow and cold. I would see a "tractor" or movable run being an addition to the permanent run.

As @TomCahalan says above, you do really need to have a plan for your drakes. We have kept 2 drakes with five hens, and it worked okay with management, but I could never see a higher ratio of drakes to hens working unless you were prepared to separate them and provide appropriate housing for all year-round. We have a 4'x8' section of our run partitioned, and that works well for our drake (sometimes with his favorite girl) at night during the April to August season. We also have an "annex" built off one side of the duckhouse that allows for additional separation if needed. While it has happened a few times, we try very hard to never fully remove a bird from the rest of the flock to treat an issue/injury or provide for recovery. Instead, we like to keep the bird with the flock but separate, which, in our experience, makes re-introduction possible.

What are you thinking of in terms of pool?

Thanks to all for input.
We will add 2 - 4 hens in next few weeks, I had not considered the Importance of drake to hen ratio.
Water is provided by a bucket, auto feed water can and small pool 15 in hes deep.
We have all sorts of predators (coyotes, fox, hawk, racoon, owls) who will attack during the day so a roofed fenced area is critical
Working on plans for protection : maybe an enclosed dog run

 

[3bird]

Does it freeze in the winter? What is your plan for watering when it's below freezing?

You can also consider a predator proof permanent run and then a less secure outdoor area (e.g., electric fence and bird deterrents or netting).

 

[JackyD]

Does it freeze in the winter? What is your plan for watering when it's below freezing?

You can also consider a predator proof permanent run and then a less secure outdoor area (e.g., electric fence and bird deterrents or netting).

 

[JackyD]

We are outside Richmond Va. A simple probe water heater should work.