Soon to be new duck mom with some questions!

[Limeaide]

Hello!!

I've been lurking around the forum for a week or two checking out different posts, admiring duck ponds and everyone's beautiful babies! I've been wanting to get ducks this year, and tomorrow is the day I finally pick them up! I'm getting two little call duck ducklings! I've been trying to read up on as much as I can, but I still have a couple questions.

1. Housing and free ranging!
I'm probably keeping them in my house or garage in a large container until I get their outside home finished up.
I have an old dog run that's no longer in use but I have a few concerns. How do I raccoon proof it? Chicken wire over the top of it? It's about an 8 foot long dog run, and it's already built so if its possible to turn it into a duck home that'd be ideal. I'm also concerned about the spaces in the fencing, more importantly - little duck heads getting stuck in them. I do have a large pond in my backyard as well, and I'd love for them to be able to roam about freely eventually, but it's a little bit of a walking distance and I'm terrified of something snatching them up walking inbetween!

2. Other pets!
If you have free range ducks, how have other duck and dog owners adjusted your dogs to them?


I've only had a tiny bit of experience with ducks in the past, and I don't think having ducklings as a child counts (they were snatched by something after we moved them to a coop by the pond) and I want to make sure the ducks are safe, healthy and I'm well prepared.

Thanks!!!

 

[Amiga]

Welcome to Duckdom!

You are right to be concerned about safety.

Especially for night time, many of us want to have no opening larger than half an inch on the duck shelter. Generally we use metal half inch hardware cloth. Chicken wire, in my opinion, keeps ducks and chickens out of the garden. It has limited value protecting them from larger, stronger animals.

A friend lost a duck when there was a one inch gap under the dog pen fence. The duck slept against the fence, and the raccoon dragged it out through that opening.

Calls are so tiny. Adorable!

Since you have a dog run, first, I would make sure it's healthy. Some people put lime (the ground stone - not quicklime aka hydrated lime) or other substance to kill potential pathogens (like worms or bacteria) before reusing an area already used by other animals.

Then I would place coated chain link across the bottom of the pen and fasten it at the edges to some lumber, perhaps a 2"x4" frame that is fastened against the bottom of the run. I would decide on a healthy substrate. There are many opinions about this. Some use gravel, some sand, I use organic material that I turn and occasionally pull out for compost. Some use the big barn stall mats.

One of the most impressive call habitats I know of is hattiegun's. https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/421850/call-duck-pens-houses

 

[Limeaide]

A raccoon got them through that tiny of a space?! Oh no

I'll for sure look into reinforcing the bottom!! I thought about having my husband build a new pen from scratch but since this structure is already standing, I figured why not try to clean it up, revamp it etc.
Hattiegun's looks incredible! Maybe eventually I'll be able to build something, I have to convince my husband how great having ducks are going to be first

Thanks for the great information! I'm very excited!

 

[Amiga]

I don't want to unnecessarily scare you, but this is one reason I try to emphasize security. None of us is immune, but we can do our best.

I think you can make some modifications of what you have and do very well.

 

[Limeaide]

No worries! I have absolutely no construction experience, neither does the husband so thats what worries me the most about trying to make things as secure as possible. I've been on youtube and the forum for hours looking at plans, ideas, what other people are doing to keep things secure.

 

[Amiga]

I built my pens and the secure porch. A circular saw, and an electric drill became my closest companions the summer of 2010. I gained an appreciation for 3 inch screws and 4 inch screws, and learned the joy of using a carpenter's speedsquare. I gained a deep appreciation for steel measuring tapes and sturdy pencils, too. Measure three times, cut once.

Protect your body. Don't forget the eyes.

 

[Deleted member 94844]

Congratulations on your new ducks! Please post pictures when you get them home...

Our ducks sleep inside the house at night so I'm not much help on safe outdoor enclosures, but I have seen what predators can do and you can't be too careful. It sounds like your dog run could make a great place for the ducks with some retrofitting. If you don't want to cover the bottom, you could dig a deep trench around the perimeter and sink the attached hardware cloth skin into the ground to ward off diggers. Just another option.

In terms of other pets, you MUST supervise at all times... we had a very close call yesterday with our small dog who nearly injured my favorite duck. I'm still reeling from what could have happened. It only takes a split second...