Predator proofing Duck house and Pen!

[Lover duck duck]

Hello,
I have a couple of questions I woukd like to ask to all of you out there that know what your doing I am in the middle of finishing up my duck house big enough for me to be able to get in there and clean it without having to bend down with a 30’ x 30’ x 6’ high pen. I had to build it in an area that had a slope, so because of that the duck house is off the ground. I installed 1/4” hardware cloth all around the pen on the bottom and welded wire on top of that so basically is double fenced with two different wires. The hardware cloth and welded wire were both 48” high, so I had to purchase wire for the top too because I made the pen 6 foot high for me to just walk in. (1) question: I have installed the hardware cloth on the top part of of pen, do you think the welded wire is needed on the top part too to keep predators out? (2) question: Since I have a 30’ x 30’ pen it was pretty expensive to buy hardware cloth for top of the pen to keep flying predators out so I purchased 1” x 1” aviary netting. Do you think that will keep hawks and black vultures we have a lot here in Orlando, Florida from killing my ducks or do you have other suggestions? They will be kept locked at night, which brings me to my (3) question: The duck house has 2’ x 2’ windows on each side of the house with double layer of 1/4” hardware cloth, the windows are up high on the walls but one on the right side I made 2 windows one high and one lower, do you think the double layer of 1/4” hardware cloth can keep raccoons out? because we sure have those too around here, though I think if one was to come in my yard my Shire horses would stomp on them just like they do when they see any other critter come through the property. Yes the duck house and pen are backyard, the same large 3 acres where my horses are all the time. And last questions: The gable ends of the ducks house and eves. Do I put hardware cloth under the eves since it’s such a small area? The gable ends are two small triangles, do I enclose it with the t1-11 siding too or do I do hardware cloth for ventilation? My fear of keeping the gables open is the rain, when it rains in central Florida the wind pushes the rain everywhere and I don’t know if it will get wet inside or not. Oh also I will be passing the electric wire I have around the perimeter of my property for my horses into the pen and duck house. I will try to post some pictures of what I have done so far. Thanks.

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

I use aviary netting over the top of my run and it keeps my ducks and chickens safe. If you have weasels, might want to put hardware cloth over the eves as they can slip into anything as small as an inch.
As for the triangles if it was my set up, I would do hw cloth, but you most likely have enough ventilation with the window areas.
Ducks do not mind the rain or mind getting wet. Sometimes if it rains just right on my duck house (a converted playhouse), it will be very wet inside. Which, the ducks don't mind as much as say chickens, but it just means you have to clean it out more often. Can you close up areas, but still leave areas open for ventilation if it is raining enough to cause the inside to become wet?
How many ducks are you housing? Most likely the ducks will only use it at night and only if you make them go in.

 

[Lover duck duck]

I use aviary netting over the top of my run and it keeps my ducks and chickens safe. If you have weasels, might want to put hardware cloth over the eves as they can slip into anything as small as an inch.
As for the triangles if it was my set up, I would do hw cloth, but you most likely have enough ventilation with the window areas.
Ducks do not mind the rain or mind getting wet. Sometimes if it rains just right on my duck house (a converted playhouse), it will be very wet inside. Which, the ducks don't mind as much as say chickens, but it just means you have to clean it out more often. Can you close up areas, but still leave areas open for ventilation if it is raining enough to cause the inside to become wet?
How many ducks are you housing? Most likely the ducks will only use it at night and only if you make them go in.

I am planning on making shutters for each window, in case for really bad thunderstorm or hurricane(hopefully not a hurricane) I have 5 female Pekins and 5 khaki Campbell’s. The duck house is 8’ x 8’ x 6’ high. I hope that’s big enough, I don’t want them to be cramped. So if I use shutters for each window the only ventilation will be in the eves and I don’t know if that would be enough. What do you think?

 

[Lover duck duck]

I am planning on making shutters for each window, in case for really bad thunderstorm or hurricane(hopefully not a hurricane) I have 5 female Pekins and 5 khaki Campbell’s. The duck house is 8’ x 8’ x 6’ high. I hope that’s big enough, I don’t want them to be cramped. So if I use shutters for each window the only ventilation will be in the eves and I don’t know if that would be enough. What do you think?

Oh and we don’t have weasels but we do have raccoons.

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

I am planning on making shutters for each window, in case for really bad thunderstorm or hurricane(hopefully not a hurricane) I have 5 female Pekins and 5 khaki Campbell’s. The duck house is 8’ x 8’ x 6’ high. I hope that’s big enough, I don’t want them to be cramped. So if I use shutters for each window the only ventilation will be in the eves and I don’t know if that would be enough. What do you think?

I would keep the triangles open and covered in hw cloth. It would provide more ventilation. It sounds like plenty of space and ventilation if you need to close it up due to rain. Generally, the triangles would stay open too as the area should be protected by the overhang.

 

[Lover duck duck]

I would keep the triangles open and covered in hw cloth. It would provide more ventilation. It sounds like plenty of space and ventilation if you need to close it up due to rain. Generally, the triangles would stay open too as the area should be protected by the overhang.

Thank you so much for your replies

 

[Lover duck duck]

I would keep the triangles open and covered in hw cloth. It would provide more ventilation. It sounds like plenty of space and ventilation if you need to close it up due to rain. Generally, the triangles would stay open too as the area should be protected by the overhang.

Sorry to bother you but since you have been the only one to answer. What do you think about the welded wire? As I mentioned I double fenced my pen first with the hardware cloth then welded wire on top but since both fences were just 48” I had to ad another 2 feet on top of hardware cloth but I haven’t yet added the welded wire. Do you think the welded wire is needed for the top 2 feet?

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

Sorry to bother you but since you have been the only one to answer. What do you think about the welded wire? As I mentioned I double fenced my pen first with the hardware cloth then welded wire on top but since both fences were just 48” I had to ad another 2 feet on top of hardware cloth but I haven’t yet added the welded wire. Do you think the welded wire is needed for the top 2 feet?

Probably not. Most predators are going to come out at night- though some nocturnal ones attack in the day. So as long as you have them secured at night, they will be fine. Hw cloth is normally what is recommended to keep all predators at bay.
Is this the run fencing you are asking about or what you did for the duck house?
A lot of byc members are quiet on the weekends and back to answering during the week - I am sure someone else will give more insight soon.

 

[Lover duck duck]

Probably not. Most predators are going to come out at night- though some nocturnal ones attack in the day. So as long as you have them secured at night, they will be fine. Hw cloth is normally what is recommended to keep all predators at bay.
Is this the run fencing you are asking about or what you did for the duck house?
A lot of byc members are quiet on the weekends and back to answering during the week - I am sure someone else will give more insight soon.

Thanks again for replying. Yes for the pen. It’s the same hardware cloth I used in the duck house. So no welded wire required at top? Which by the way, I know I double fenced the duck house windows with the hardware cloth should I also add a layer of the welded wire? Sorry for the millions of questions Just want to keep my ducks safe. I’m not very good with finding animals dead. I won’t be able to sleep for days, specially those that I have raised from day one.

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

You won't need the welded wire at the top. My set up is cattle panels with welded wire around the outside so that my ducks and chickens cannot slip through. It is about 4' tall. Then, it is covered by aviary netting. Mine is by no means fort knox, but it is doing the job. My birds are then locked up at night.
You mentioned an electric wire, so all of that should be sufficient at keeping predators at bay.
Even with the most fortified set up, I have read there can be issues. Once your ducks get settled in and you are all done, relax and enjoy them.
I am relatively new to all of this as well. The best thing that I have learned is to relax and enjoy your birds while giving them the best possible life. It's really the most you can do.