Several Duck Questions

[ChristineR]

oops, somehow I double posted and don't see a delete button...

 

[ChristineR]

Quote:
10) I'm not sure where you read that ducks won't poop inside their home. All of mine always have. Maybe I've just had slobs.

11) I've had good luck with Metzer Farms.

 

[Muggsmagee]

Keep reading and researching. Duck math CAN be the same as Chicken math, so be careful. I've ordered a bunch of hatching eggs, a large mix of ducks from McMurray's and another order from Holderread's Waterfowl.

You can put hay or straw (Or cut grass) on the floor of your shelter...it will get compressed with poo, but will be easier to clean than just scraping poo off wood.

The 2 x 2 x 4 just seems so small. Also, when you order ducks, most companies have a minimum order number...it may be as little as 5 or 10.

If you just want layers and a pretty duck, get what you like. Metzer's had a great duck list and info. When I was on my search earlier this year, I was after duck egg color. Now that I have (and have had) a bazillion ducks, I know exactly which are my faves. The egg color became second rate. This could also be because I get the full spectrum of colors from my chickens!

You can NEVER be overly prepared, and you'll find what works best for you and your ducks. Be forewarned...ducks are disgustingly MESSY!!!!

http://www.metzerfarms.com/DuckWelcome.cfm?CustID=405187
http://holderreadfarm.com/

I was getting input from other duck owners for egg color...
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=5294222

 

[dianaross77]

Why not cover the floor with linoleum? You could also use indoor/outdoor carpet. I use Equine fresh pellets for litter with a little hay or straw on top to soften it. My 2 ducklings sleep in a 54 gallon tote that's about 2' wide 4' long and 2' tall. I wouldn't put them in anything smaller and they're only 2 months old. When they get bigger I will be moving them into a 4x4 plastic playhouse made into a duck house. The 2 pekins I had slept outside in the winter (MI) on the snow eventhough they had a house. Ducks have lots of down to protect them from the cold. The important thing is windbreak. If you have a secure pen or don't mind the idea of your ducks getting eaten by a predator, you can make a 3 sided shelter out of bales of straw. Just make sure the back faces the wind.

 

[Mergansinator]

Thanks again for the feedback. I plan on getting 4 ducks to start out with, and so far I'm thinking I'll get 1 male buff, 1 female Golden 300 layer, 1 female Cayuga (I like the gray/black egg color), and 1 female Welsh Harlequin.

I don't want multiples of the same breed and gender, because I want to be able to tell my duckies apart. I may exchange the male buff for a more 'exotic' breed.

I think I'll go with the 4'x4'x4-5' design for the coop as well, along with treated lumber floors and vents on the walls above the nest area that can be sealed for the winter.

Could a hose take off the poo from the ground by itself, or would I have to scrape it off anyway?

 

[tdgill]

I was hosing out my duck house with hardware cloth wired floor. My ground is on a slope so it worked good for a while and I was quite happy with myself. Until the puddling at the end of the fence... I now throw a layer of straw in on top of the wire and put a fresh scattering of straw or pine shavings (from Tractor supply) each nite before I put them to bed. I have good ventilation since the front of the house is the door that is wired on both sides of the frame with predator proof heavy gauge wire. That way no little racoon fingers can reach in and grab body parts or feet.

 

[Mergansinator]

Quote:
Those are some good ideas. Luckily, I have really sandy soil where I live, so puddling isn't much of an issue at all.

For the sides of a house, what do you guys use? Do you use planks of treated lumber or do you use plywood?

 

[tbitt]

Quote:
I have never read where ducks will not poop inside. I have ducks, they are locked inside a coop at night, when they were younger we put food and water in there with them at night. In the morning there was poop everywhere. Lately I have been putting them to bed without food or water. In the morning there is poop everywhere. Ducks poop, and they don't care where they poop......If you get ducks expect them to poop everywhere!

To keep the coop clean, place bathroom wall covering on the floor. it is water resistant, mildew resistant and it is EASY to scoop the poop up (poop will not stick to it)


I use it with shavings/shredded paper as bedding on top.

 

[Mergansinator]

Quote:
I think I may try the tile flooring thing. Do I need to use the bedding if I give the birds nest boxes with bedding in them instead?

 

[tdgill]

I don't think I'd use the linoleum tile "sections" flooring that you lay down in square blocks, I would think moisture and poop would get between or underneath. You can get leftovers or remnants of linoleum flooring at Home depot, or lowes or such...very inexpensive.