Please Help! New Duckling Owners...

[Miss Lydia]

Right now Scuba is in a large tool cart box (20" x 38") with pine shavings, water & food, and a big stuffed bunny rabbit friend. She loves to step in her water and food and spill it everywhere so we had to put both in square tupperware... We might need to get small buckets her pretty soon :/ anyone have a watering/feeder container that works well and doesn't get knocked over or get covered in pine shavings?

We thought about getting another friend for Scuba, but we aren't sure it's the best idea right now. We don't even know how to house her when she's full grown, so we don't know how that will go with 2 ducks. But we will see!

I hope this doesn't mean you'd think of putting her out at a lake or pond, she'd never make it in the wild, too dependent on you now. Here is a link to houses and pens, they don't need anything special or fancy just something safe from elements and predators. https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/671003/duck-house

 

[thesmiths]

We would never think to do that. Not only is it illegal, it would be highly irresponsible of anyone to do that. We just went sure how to house her in our backyard once she outgrows her box. We've been thinking about building a little house for her with a run and a little pool.

 

[Miss Lydia]

We would never think to do that. Not only is it illegal, it would be highly irresponsible of anyone to do that. We just went sure how to house her in our backyard once she outgrows her box. We've been thinking about building a little house for her with a run and a little pool.

That's a great idea, you had me a little worried when you said you aren't even sure how to house her when full grown. I hope eventually you'll consider a friend for her though she will be lonely.

 

[Amiga]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/848637/wow-the-mess-newbie-shocked/30#post_12994017

 

[thesmiths]

Thanks for the links, lots of good info and tips there! I was at Sam's Club today and saw a really nice chicken "mansion" that had housing and a fenced in run and pool. $300 is too much to spend, but it definitely gave us some ideas for building one for the backyard!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Thanks for the links, lots of good info and tips there! I was at Sam's Club today and saw a really nice chicken "mansion" that had housing and a fenced in run and pool. $300 is too much to spend, but it definitely gave us some ideas for building one for the backyard!

I've seen them at Sams. if you decide to do one similar keep it closer to the ground, ducks don't care much for high ramps.

 

[Amiga]

I love the look of that coop. As if it matters, that is what I would consider really nice. Thinking about it, though, there are dozens of coop designs I have seen here that are really nice. Just this one fits in with my style, if I have one. Mercy, I must be tired.

 

[jenniemig]

Thanks for the links, lots of good info and tips there! I was at Sam's Club today and saw a really nice chicken "mansion" that had housing and a fenced in run and pool. $300 is too much to spend, but it definitely gave us some ideas for building one for the backyard!

I have been planning to build my ducks a house, but after struggling to build the coop for my chickens I decided to go with something pre-fab. They will have this dog house that I ordered off of ebay for $135.99. I will be making some modifications like hinging the roof for easy access to clean, setting it on concrete pavers to keep the legs from rotting, and I will be sealing it with some sort of stain or exterior paint. Oh, and building them a wide ramp for easy access. This house will be in their own 12X12 run, separate from the chickens.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/171246001847?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

http://www.ebay.com/itm/171246001847?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

 

[Miss Lydia]

I have been planning to build my ducks a house, but after struggling to build the coop for my chickens I decided to go with something pre-fab. They will have this dog house that I ordered off of ebay for $135.99. I will be making some modifications like hinging the roof for easy access to clean, setting it on concrete pavers to keep the legs from rotting, and I will be sealing it with some sort of stain or exterior paint. Oh, and building them a wide ramp for easy access. This house will be in their own 12X12 run, separate from the chickens.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/171246001847?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

http://www.ebay.com/itm/171246001847?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

I like that and for those of us with no building skills, great.! Are you going to put on a door so you can close them up at night/ or is your run going to be fully enclosed?

 

[jenniemig]

I like that and for those of us with no building skills,  great.!  Are you going to put on a door so you can close them up at night/ or is your run going to be fully enclosed? 

The run is fully enclosed and will have 3 strands of hot wire. I can't afford a fence for free ranging yet. But I hope to have it up by the end of summer. The ground in the run is sand so I'll be growing them some fodder for greens.