Show me your wood duck pens/coops

[cawooduck]

This is my new duck pen i just built in February, its 30' x 30' and 10' tall in the center and 7' tall on the sides. The pond is 9' x 7' and 8" deep, its made from a pond liner placed in a 2" x 12" frame. The netting is 2" heavy netting from 3T products, it cost me $120 shipped for a 50' x 50' piece.

The pond.

 

[SGM]

Wow, you guys are so creative. I love all the ideas you posted. I however, do not have a flat inch of property especially up here near the house to house ducks. So I'm in for a real treat trying to find a place to keep my ducks.

 

[Lophura]

Quote:
You might want to add some ramps leading to the holes in the boxes.

Dan

 

[DuckyBoys]

Quote:
You might want to add some ramps leading to the holes in the boxes.

Dan

But they fly!

They can get on top of them to lounge and poop just fine.

I think they are just not bonded yet or something. I've had them since October and I KNOW that the woodies are bonded, they can't go anywhere without each other - but no laying OR mating behavior that I can see. I change the water daily - they like that and get in and splash around immediately after I leave the area, but no funny business going on in the pools that I have seen.

The only thing I can think of is that I removed all the call and runner ducks (except one pair of runners and one odd call drake) for breeding season, perhaps that threw them off? I figured they'd enjoy the space as they were getting a little territorial in January - but maybe they miss them?

They are just yearlings too - so maybe they are just immature. I don't mind anyway - I have more than enough new birds this year, but it would be nice for them to show interest in the $250 worth of nesting boxes that I purchased.

 

[cawooduck]

Duckboys,

Give it time buddy!! My woodies havnt started laying yet either, but they are checking out the boxes pretty hard now. My wood duck project on the wild woodies havnt produced any eggs yet either, they usually dont start laying until about the end of April around here. Your in Colorado, they might be waiting for temps to warm up a bit. As far as the breeding, you might be missing it, it only lasts for a few seconds. As long as they have a good diet and access to enough water to swim/mate in, you will be fine.

As far as the boxes go, you could have saved yourself a ton of money by building your own, you can build three nest boxes for about $21. One sheet of plywood and a box of screws.

You can get the plans off the California Waterfowl Association website. Look under the wood duck project and the plans will be there.

Goodluck!.............Jason

 

[Lophura]

Quote:
Sometimes the ramps give them them some encouragement. I have full flight birds as well, but they always use the ramps. I think it helps get the "light-bulb" to go off in their heads - "oh, that's what that is for...."!!

We have Mandarins laying in Missouri and they've been checking out boxes for weeks, so should be going or starting soon for you.

Dan

 

[bock]

wistle wistle!!!

 

[cici_p]

Well, since somebody started this thread. . .
I am thinking of converting this (the last owners designed it to be a sort of gazebo structure)
into an aviary for mandarins. . .

What do you guys think???
Made to order, right?
(that's what I told hubby, anyway)

 

[Lophura]

Quote:
I love it when the work is mostly done!! Cover that with some small mesh and I can see that being a great finch or softbill aviary. How big is it?

Dan

 

[cici_p]

It is at least 12' x12', maybe 15' by 15', I would have to measure it (I am guessing, because it is more than twice the length of me,

)
Yeah, that's what I was thinking, put hardware cloth or similar wire all around it.
Do you not think it is big enough for a couple pairs of mandarins?