New to ducks and geese - coop design help!

[hannahbear]

Hello, I am in the process of building a duck/goose house and would love some advice as I have never raised waterfowl before. As of right now, it's a large slanted roof doghouse (for lack of a better description) with plenty of hardwire clothed ventilation across three sides. My main question is nesting boxes. From most of what I read, it sounds like ducks don't really use them. And I am planning on using straw for bedding so either they'll lay in nests they make in the house in the early morning or I'll be collecting them from their pen. However, I just read a new article that says if you make nesting boxes very private, they will use them. Especially if you leave the ducks locked in the house until later in the morning. But that they do prefer to lay outside on the ground. We have coyotes and hawks etc, so I will definitely be locking them in the house every night for protection. Should I build out a couple nesting boxes across the short side of the house for them to use or put out single little boxes in the pen? I do have a 18" W section on the end that I was going to use for a covered overhang so that their food won't get rained on out in the field (we live in the PNW) but could easily turn that into nesting boxes that are accessed from outside the house and are on the ground. Which would they realistically or prefer to use? It would be nice to not have to hunt around for eggs. Also, what size should I make the boxes, including the front openings? I am getting Runner ducks, Blue Swedish, Welsh Harlequins, and possibly a Toulouse goose.

In the picture below is the bones of the house. The section on the very left is meant to have sides and a roof on top but open on the end for a sheltered area for food and food storage. And it is up off the ground so that it can be picked up by the tractor forks for easy movability in the field. The rectangle on the top (right under the roof) and the triangles on the sides will be hardwire cloth openings for ventilation. Duck door is in the bottom right, it's 2'x2'. And the entire right side will be a big door for easy cleaning.

Thanks in advance for any and all advice!

 

[DuckyDonna]

I don't know a thing about geese but ducks don't need nesting boxes. Your coop looks like it's going to be very nice. I think it's too late but I'd have made it so you can stand up in it for easier cleaning.

 

[Isaac 0]

I would highly advise against getting a goose, they should be in pairs in the first place, and keeping geese in the same coop/run with ducks will not work, they can inflict severe damage on the ducks.

 

[hannahbear]

I don't know a thing about geese but ducks don't need nesting boxes. Your coop looks like it's going to be very nice. I think it's too late but I'd have made it so you can stand up in it for easier cleaning.

It's about 5 feet on the tall side and 4 feet on the short side, so I can pretty comfortably stoop in there -- but my chicken coop I can't get in to and it drives me nuts. Totally agree!

 

[hannahbear]

I would highly advise against getting a goose, they should be in pairs in the first place, and keeping geese in the same coop/run with ducks will not work, they can inflict severe damage on the ducks.

Thanks for your input. You don't think having a female raised with ducklings might work? Or will they still get aggressive with the ducks? I also don't have any drakes. It's a pretty small flock

 

[Kabootar]

Please mention the breed/breeds you are planning to keep. Muscovies like to lay in nests, other breeds will generally drop the egg on the ground, but they prefer a secured region like a corner. My ducks will lay under the nesting boxes instead of laying inside them. Geese like to make nests in a simple sheltered area just to be safe from rain and sun.

You can keep ducks and geese together as long as you don't keep a single gander as he may try to breed your ducks in the breeding season. If you are just starting with geese then I highly recommend Toulouse geese.

 

[hannahbear]

Please mention the breed/breeds you are planning to keep. Muscovies like to lay in nests, other breeds will generally drop the egg on the ground, but they prefer a secured region like a corner. My ducks will lay under the nesting boxes instead of laying inside them. Geese like to make nests in a simple sheltered area just to be safe from rain and sun.

You can keep ducks and geese together as long as you don't keep a single gander as he may try to breed your ducks in the breeding season. If you are just starting with geese then I highly recommend Toulouse geese.

Thanks so much for the information! That's definitely a breed I have on my short list, also Embden. Looking to get a female as well, as I've heard the ganders may try to do that. I'm getting some runners, blue swedish, and a couple welsh harlequins. I ended up putting some nesting boxes on the floor with easily removable partitions so that if they don't end up using it I can take them out and just use it as coop floor space. Figure that way either easier to find eggs or more ducks - win/win! ☺