The Duck Kingdom is underway

[Cetawin]

My girls and one rooster live in the Kingdom of Eggtopia. Which has a lovely 12' x 12' keep, a wonderful 12' x 26' courtyard, some modern comforts like a huge 4' x 6' picture window, fans and a radio. They have lived there happily for almost one year. In May, we added ducks to our family so a duck kingdom is now in order.

When I started pricing material for I wanted I soon realized it would end up being another case of my actual spending being way above my planned budget, just as Eggtopia was. So what to do? Hit craigslist of course. So I began searching on craigslist for sheds, fencing etc etc and made an absolutely fantastic find. A shed made only 3 months ago and never used by a gentlemen who was having to move and could not take it with him. It is 6' x 8' and very sturdy built and the cost...a fabulous $400.00 and it had been roofed with 30 year shingles to make his house and has exterior T-11 siding. Perfect! So, we got a trailer and went to get it.

So here is the new duckie house and the plan...notice you can see the Keep of Eggtopia in the left background.

Great keyed lock on the main door which shall be my door

The very sturdy door and entrance

One shot of the interior...as you can see I have already purchased a spare small pool, fan and hardwire cloth for the future ventilation openings as well as 2 lbs of DE purchased from a fellow BYCer

Another interior shot...the shelf will stay but the hook rack on the right is leaving. My plan is for a small window where that rack on the right is and one directly opposite it on the left.

Nice high ceiling/roofline which gives me great areas for ventilation front and rear and tons of potential for added electrical to it at a later date

The run/enclosure area will be to the left. It has a slight slope for good drainage of water, good shade and protection in the trees from any flying critters. I will of course put up netting in the open areas. So the run/enclosure will go off to the left and back into the trees. It is somewhat hard to tell by the picture but the area slopes down towards the coop but also back towards the fenceline and to the drain area.

So, now the modifications/renovations are being planned and beginning. I will of course put a coat of Killz paint on the inside to seal the plywood from any moisture. I have a 8' x 10' pond liner that will be the base over the floor, then bedding on top of it. The inside will be divided into three areas. One area for a trio of ducks, one area for a trio or pair of ducks and one area to store their food, straw and supplies. As I have 2 coops ordered from a fellow BYCer, that will give an area for either a pair or trio of ducks and my three drake bachelor pad and everyone will be happy. Or, I can do them seasonally and put the GWH in one section, the anconas in one section and their food and such then separate them into mating groups in the spring...the options are really open. YAY

So, add ventilation, windows, room dividers, paint and run...duckies will be happy.

So...thoughts, opinions?

 

[GrannySue]

Wow! Those ducks are going to be better housed than some people I know!

I am having a new house built as well, by my long-suffering son who is a builder by day. It's 6x8, will house my chickens while the runners will take over the original one. My rationale here is that the ducks are already used to the shared house and I don't think it will take the chickens too long to get used to a new roosting place.

Our winters aren't too bad here. My drake went through his first winter quite happily. When his feet got too cold he would just sit on them, a trick shown to him by a mature pair I had at the time. They moved to a farm this summer but 4 lady ducks have moved here.
Summers aren't unbearable and anyway the birds are outside all day.
I had considered air-conditioning, forced air heating, satellite TV, wall-to-wall carpeting and surround sound in the new house but then realized it wasn't wired up for electricity so decided against it for now, plus I didn't want to make the other birds jealous.

I'm saving a lot of money by having the "kid "(37) do the building for me. No labour costs except the occasional beer and a few egg salad sandwiches. Heh, I really did make egg salad for him and he asked why they tasted so good. When I told him I'd used duck eggs he was a bit taken aback, since he'd already told me he didn't want to try them.

 

[streemers]

wow you got sooo lucky! im am hunting for acerage and think i might use your idea

 

[Cetawin]

Thank you both.


GrannySue that sounds awesome.

 

[CityChicker]

What a great find! Those are some lucky duckies.

 

[Cetawin]

Thank you. I still have work to do before they can move in but I think it is fabulous that I do not have to build it. It would cost me more to build it anyway...it usually does.

The glass company here in town has a stock pile of old windows of all sizes and shapes so getting two small windows should not be aproblem and making a couple duckie doors will be a breeze...right now the bulk of the work seems to be the interior and the run. But it is fun transforming things anyway.

 

[Hurst]

I like the house. Lucky duckies.

 

[rlhbond]

You really got a great deal. It would cost more than that just for materials.

 

[Cetawin]

I so agree...that is why I jumped all over it. It will be a great secure house for them.

 

[ARose4Heaven]

Wow! Great Duckery. I just got my first Duckies yesterday. Nine little 1 week old ?Roens? We set up a large covered run for our new babies, right next door to the chicken yard. I put the babies to bed inside thier new run in the large pet carrier with fresh pine bedding. Because they are used to being inside at night, we put a heat lamp pointed into the carrier, and put a window screen over the carrier door to keep rodents out. When last I checked on them, they were chattering and enjoying the insects attracted by the light.
Hey! does this mean I have to build a Duckery? Or can they move in with the chickens after they get aquanted?