Question on Duck Coop and Run

[khuff99]

We are getting 8-10 ducks. We have a 2 acre pond our ducks will free range on. I'm having a hard time deciding on how much time to put into a nice duck house, as I've heard so many ducks refuse to come in at night once they are allowed on the pond. Ideally I'd like to build them a duck house and small run attached to lock them in on the occasions we go out of town for the weekend. We live in central Georgia, so winters aren't too cold. Does anyone have a set up like this? What's the minimum size I could get away with on the run for them to stay in for just a few days on occasion?

 

[Ratchnick]

If you build a house it has to be part of the daily routine. 150 sqft run would work but they might not like being locked in it and protest loudly.

 

[fatty and friends]

staying on a pond at night will get them killed

 

[Sheepheart]

Before allowing them to free range on the pond, get them in a routine of going to the coop at night or when it starts getting dark.
After a while they should go in on their own when it gets dark.
I know this doesn’t answer your coop question completely but hopefully it helps you have a more confident decision on how much effort to put into their coop/run