Protective pen

[MammaAtTheAvenue]

Hi. I'm planning on making a moveable enclosure to protect my ducks when they are in the garden. Can anyone advise me how big to make it for 12 ducks please? They will only be in there on days when I am with them and hope to move it regularly. We currently have magpies in our tree and a buzzard has been sighted within 500m. Because I plan to move it I can't make it as big as I would actually like. Practicality is key xxx

 

[Miss Lydia]

You might enjoy looking here until someone who has done a tractor comes on
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/categories/tractor-coops.17/

 

[MammaAtTheAvenue]

You might enjoy looking here until someone who has done a tractor comes on
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/categories/tractor-coops.17/

Thank you. I hadn't even considered wheels. I just pictured myself in my mind trying to lift this huge netted metal frame xxx

 

[Miss Lydia]

And we’d of course have to have a video of that

 

[MammaAtTheAvenue]

And we’d of course have to have a video of that

I would have one and not even realised because I don't go out much and forget about the camera with regards to me being on it xxx

 

[ruthhope]

My son made an 8'x 4' tractor with lumber. and 2 wheels at one end. It is too heavy for him to move. He can move it and has moved it 3 or 4 times over the last year, but he's not moving it any more as it was "killing him". His 8' x 4' tractor would not be big enough for 12 ducks. Although he only has 3 in it, it wouldn't be big enough for more than 6. His ducks free range during the day and rarely have to stay inside the tractor during the day.

So your vision of a netted metal pen might be a good way of having a big enough enclosure for 12 ducks that you can move around . It wouldn't be safe for ducks after dark as predators could dig underneath it. Walmart has a couple of models -- they come with a tarp for over the roof

 

[MammaAtTheAvenue]

Thank you @ruthhope. I would be just during the day whilst I am present but so I can concentrate on whatever I doing rather than being concerned about my duckies being in attacked by anything xxx