Temporary Run Help

[alypearce]

I'm working on building a run for my 4 ducks (2 pekin & 2 khaki campbell) that I can put up while I'm on vacation for a week at the end of the month and then take down when I return. At least that's what I'm telling my husband!

I currently have a 4X8 coop that the ducks sleep in and spend their days when I'm not able to be home. The rest of the time they free range my yard supervised. My neighbor will be checking in on them everyday to make sure they always have water and food but he is older and I don't want to make him responsible for watching the ducks while they are outside the coop and then herding them back in at night.

The run will be under my deck so it should stay pretty dry and shady. I'm planning on building the run out of PVC pipe and using 1/2" hardware cloth as the sides and roof. I've seen a couple videos on YouTube on how to build them and I'll just need to make some adjustments so that it is predator proof. I am wondering what is the minimum size the ducks will need for the week? I've read that 10 square feet per duck is enough. Is that correct? This would be in addition to the coop space.

I'm also trying to figure out what type of floor is best for them. The coop has pine shavings. The area where the run will be is dirt/mulch currently and since this is not a permanent run I am planning on laying landscape fabric down before I put down the run floor material. I don't know how much cleaning of the run will take place during this week. Any thoughts on the best material for the run floor?

I feel bad that they will not be able to forge for a whole week. Will they be okay not being able to do this?

Any other suggestions are appreciated. This is the first time I'm leaving them and I'm so nervous. I know it's just a week but I don't want them to be miserable while I'm gone.

Thank you!

 

[3bird]

We know how stressful leaving can be!

We have a 4'x8' elevated duckhouse with an attached 12'x8' run. Because the duckhouse is elevated, the run is actually 16'x8' (plus the 4'x8' duckhouse interior). Our six large breed ducks (silver Appleyards) have 24/7 access to the run and duckhouse (it's predator proof). In addition, they get supervised free-range time at least 2x per day. For the rest of the time when we're home, they are either free ranging with us or in their fenced pastures, which are pretty big. When we are away, which is what your question is about, they do get to come out into their fenced pasture two times a day when the ducksitter is feeding and cleaning, but they don't get to free range. Then they are put back into the run for the duration of the day. Would they prefer to be out foraging in one of their fields or free ranging? You bet! But they do just fine pretty much being confined to the 16'x8' run as well.

In terms of the "floor," our run is about 1/3 cobbles where their food is and then the rest is straw. You'll need to do something for digging predators. We use a 2' predator apron.

We also installed wifi cameras so we can check up on them when we are away. ;-)