The Duck Coop & Complex has begun! *8-28 update Pg 2*

[G Wiz Ranch]

Great find.

 

[Cetawin]

work on the duck house began early for me today. around 8 am I hit it. I got the door for the cabinet cut out and hung and only left to be done on it is the paint. I also installed a barrel bolt latch on the bottom of the main door just to give a bit of extra security.

I got the sawzall and cut out the duck doors...I must say a saw, cutting into the side of a shed and seasonal allergies are not a good combo. There are several well less than straight edges but hey they work and they fit back in snuggly. Now just to put a chain on them to hold them open. The latches are already installed on the inside to lock them up at night. As I will be having 3 breeding groups next spring, I put three doors in and I will be building divider walls to be put into place in there. I will have one section for a chocolate ancona trio, 1 for a GWH trio and 1 for my lavender and black pair. The bachelor GWH will be going into a separate coop altogether.

Both windows got 1 x 4 trim installed on the inside, hardwire cloth on the outside and trim on top of the hardwire cloth. The larger window has a screen so the hardwire cloth on it is 1/2" but the smaller window does not have a screen so it got 1/4" hardwire cloth installed. It faces the east and we never get rain from the east so, it should work fine.

Large window trimmed

Small window trimmed. I must replace the sash lock on the inside but in the meantime, I used a chisel on the 2 x 4 framing the window to remove a place where the old sash lock can slide into it to close completely. So, only an additional sash lock needs to be installed to secure it at night.

Here are close ups of both windows fully completed...now just a little touch up paint and they are done.

Lg window 1/2" hardwire cloth

Sm window 1/4" hardwire cloth

Ventilation was cut up in the gables on both ends and covered with 1/2" hardwire cloth. they will have trim installed later today when it cools off or tomorrow morning. Between the 4 ventilation openings in the gables and the great cross breeze from the two windows, there is more than enough ventilation in the duck house for them.

While I was busy working away, the ducks were in one of the tractors playing in a kiddie pool. They did stop every now and again to watch me or see what was going on. they are nosey ducks!

This afternoon is touch up painting on the trim and the inside framing of the duck doors. More updates as more work is done.

 

[Soccer Mom]

Wow, you don't mess around. It's coming along nicely!

 

[Cetawin]

LOL I cannot mess around...they are 15 weeks old today (it is Monday isn't it? or is it Tuesday? sheesh I am lost). My drakes are starting to spar aggressively, one is already mating two females and it time for them to be situated in their house istead of the garage. LOL

I also started attacking that wooded area to the left and behind the duck house with a rake...clipped out wild blackberrys, pulled poison oak out and took out a couple small trees...it still needs a bit more work to be "duck proof" but I go inside during the midday heat so it can wait. LOL

 

[LilDucky85]

I feel your pain. I had my 7 Pekin ducks living in my garage for over 2 months in a large dog cage. They were born in April and they were in there from May to early July. Now I think of it, I dont know how they all fit! I'd let them out during the day but still. At the time it was plenty of room, but now that they are in their coop it seems so small.

You're doing a great job! A fast job too!!

 

[Cetawin]

Okay, so today is my birthday and I have spent it working on my duck house. hehehehe

So, I got the duck doors all hooked up with latches, handles, chains and so forth, so now all three can easily be pushed open and held up:

Then I managed to get the divider walls cut, installed and am pleased with the three sections. now there is a section for my ancona trio, my GWH trio and my ancona pair. The divider walls slide out easily so in the winter and fall, they can all hang together in one large common space.

This is the main wall inside the door with a small door for me to go through. Just before this wall is the area there food will be stored in the huge garbage can and a bale of straw standing on the opposite wall for bedding.

This area (on the right in the pic) will be for my GWH trio. I am going to make some PVC feeders to hang on the walls of each section and will use buckets with holes in them for the duckie heads to hold their water. That will allow everyone free floor space aside from a nest box. This area is a tad over 10 sq ft.

The area for my ancona pair, against the back wall. This area is 8 sq ft

The area in front is the area for my ancona trio. It is also a tad over 10 sq ft.

I installed a bolt latch on the bottom of the main door just as extra security

So, maybe when it cools down a little, I will start all the painting and touch up trim paint...and maybe not. I also picked up t-posts and 100' of fencing today to get started on enclosing their area. But, no work on that today.

 

[Wifezilla]

Mating already? And EGGS already??? Geezzzz. Maybe my girls are just late bloomers....or lazy!

 

[Cetawin]

Quote:
Nope just the one egg over a week ago and that is it. but Draccus, the dragon duck is all about romance! hehehehehe

 

[Cetawin]

Well all day Friday was dedicated to putting together the new bachelor pad and putting up fencing. I will have to measure the area but I used over 100' of wire for the main portion.

So, the fencing for the gang:

So they have plenty of romping room, I still have some clean-up to do in there but it is nearly ready. I will work on making gates for it Saturday.


The bachelor pad for the 3 extra drakes. The little coop was not too bad to put together but it had its moments trying to do it by myself...but it worked. I wanted them to have more romp room so I added a separate fence to the main fencing so I can just open up their run door and let them romp in a larger area and have their pool.

I will get pics of the inside of it tomorrow. But I hinged and latched the nest box door.

There is one of these on each side and I will probably add a chain or something inside just as an extra precaution:

The main coop door was covered in hardwire cloth, a latch and handle installed. I have a padlock to lock it up.

The run door had a handle and a bolt lock attached:

I did cut out a door to cover the pop hole and got it hinged, tomorrow I will pick up a latch to secure it, paint the door and get pics.

I did buy extra brass screws to screw down the floor plates inside the nest box and coop area. They were notched for a good fit but I wanted to make sure they could not be lifted or pushed up by any critter. I also have a pond liner to install inside to help stop moisture. I am going to add a screw on each corner of the roof because I can lift it with one hand easily so it would probably be nothing for a team of coons to lift and one slip inside.

So, I can see the finish line in this project and then to work on a pond, pump and filter. For now they can use their plastic kiddie pools and be perfectly happy.

More updates as they happen.

 

[G Wiz Ranch]

It is looking good. It sounds like you plan on keeping the breeds seperate in the coop. I have to warn you, my Ancona's have no problem "hoping" or "flying over a 6ft fence. They are about 26 weeks old now. Even my Roens can hurdle a 4ft jump to get on top of two grass bales stacked on their sides atop one another. You might want to consider puting a screened panel over the interior sections to prevent them from mixing.