New to Ducks - need help with Run ideas ASAP

[chickens really]

I have 7 Call Ducks...I do let mine out Daily for an hour..They do fine and are Happy Ducks..

 

[cjdurand]

Just thought I would update you on how it's coming along...I may have over engineered the thing It looks smaller on paper and of course requires more wood than my "simple" rendering called for. But it will have 1/4 inch hardware cloth all around it, a door on one end for us to duck in and two lift up panels on the roof (one solid one mesh) so we can walk upright in it. The other end will connect to the duck house.

With it as heavy duty as it is do you think I really need to shut them in at night?

 

[onaharley]

Just thought I would update you on how it's coming along...I may have over engineered the thing It looks smaller on paper and of course requires more wood than my "simple" rendering called for. But it will have 1/4 inch hardware cloth all around it, a door on one end for us to duck in and two lift up panels on the roof (one solid one mesh) so we can walk upright in it. The other end will connect to the duck house.

With it as heavy duty as it is do you think I really need to shut them in at night?

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Looking good! I would suggest that you do....so that the ducks know what to do when you do need to shut them in. Once you have them trained, then you can play it by ear on what you feel is best.

 

[cjdurand]

One more update because it turns out my ducks are actually not pekins! I'm not sure what the brownish ones are. The little brown one ended up being a blue Swedish which is actually what we guessed after stalking the internet for duckling photos haha. Any ideas on what the other two are? When can I sex them?

 

[chickens really]

Those are Buff Orpington Ducks....Nice Birds...appear to be all Hens....

 

[3bird]

Just thought I would update you on how it's coming along...I may have over engineered the thing It looks smaller on paper and of course requires more wood than my "simple" rendering called for. But it will have 1/4 inch hardware cloth all around it, a door on one end for us to duck in and two lift up panels on the roof (one solid one mesh) so we can walk upright in it. The other end will connect to the duck house.

With it as heavy duty as it is do you think I really need to shut them in at night?

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We have seven silver Appleyards, and they have an elevated 4x8 duckhouse and a 16x8 run (4x8 of it is under the duckhouse). We have 1/4" hardware cloth on the walls of the run and a wood shingle roof. We used a predator apron that extends out 2' around all sides of the run. We let them come and go 24/7 unless the weather is bad enough that we want to lock them in for a time. They get to forage mornings and evenings outside the run. During the summer, they are out a lot more when we were are in the garden. Three-quarters of our run is covered in straw in the winter. We use pavers under their water. Inside the duckhouse we use the deep litter method with pine shavings and straw in the nesting areas.

Your new family members are gorgeous!

 

[Clucksworth12]

Well first I would just like to say it is sad that people will just drop helpless ducklings off at your oarents house, and I think it is very wonderful that you are caring for them. Now the pen. I have a pen like you said you were first going to build. I suggest a roof, as water often muddies the pen up very bad. I have one section filled with large flowerbed white rocks. The rest leave dirt were there water will be. I suggest hanging the waterer over a deep hole, make it wide, then fill it with medium rocks so water will drain instead of standing causing mud, featherloss, and stress (which would mean no eggs!) Every two weeks, I put fresh dirt, hay, and leaves in the lart that is dirt. Tp save you food and money, I suggest a trough to!

 

[cjdurand]

Those are Buff Orpington Ducks....Nice Birds...appear to be all Hens....

man I hope they really are all hens!! that would be perfect

 

[cjdurand]

Well first I would just like to say it is sad that people will just drop helpless ducklings off at your oarents house, and I think it is very wonderful that you are caring for them. Now the pen. I have a pen like you said you were first going to build. I suggest a roof, as water often muddies the pen up very bad. I have one section filled with large flowerbed white rocks. The rest leave dirt were there water will be. I suggest hanging the waterer over a deep hole, make it wide, then fill it with medium rocks so water will drain instead of standing causing mud, featherloss, and stress (which would mean no eggs!) Every two weeks, I put fresh dirt, hay, and leaves in the lart that is dirt. Tp save you food and money, I suggest a trough to!

thanks! do you have any photos of your pen and waterer?

 

[onaharley]

I don't know about the grass growing in the sand, dandelions try and grow through the sand but as soon as I rake it they pop up. Yes it has to be covered to keep it dry. But my sides are open so water does get in, I have to take my big rake and move the wet to the dry sand and then move the dry sand to where the wet sand was....shift it around, you know

I added see thru roofing panels yesterday! Love that they can still see thru and be protected from predators, plus it will keep the water out (for the most part) when rains!!