The Duck Thread

[Miss Lydia]

I am probably going to build them a huge coop and never let them out except when I'm there

A huge coop sounds really good Zako, but they will need to be outside Ducks love to dig, forage and just basically have fun so you might want to think of fencing in some space attached to their coop. Plus you mentioned getting more than one drake, keep them confined to a large coop won't be good for 2 drakes, they have to have plenty of room to stay away from each other or fights will break out. Did you ever say how old your ducks your getting are?

 

[ZakoHero]

GAAAH!!!!

I don't know what to do!!I'm probably going to get them around 1 1/2 years old and probably going to get one or two ducklins.

 

[Amiga]

GAAAH!!!!

I don't know what to do!!I'm probably going to get them around 1 1/2 years old and probably going to get one or two ducklins.

ZakoHero, I think you are going to do fine. A large coop will be good to start with. I like to arrange mine so that if needed, I can separate ducks with some plastic poultry fence in case there are conflicts, or if someone needs a timeout for any reason.

My ducks have what I call a Day Pen. It is a 10'x16' pen covered top bottom and sides with fence. That's where they are when I am not able to be with them outside. They did not have that the first few weeks they were outside because I was building it!

They can manage in a large coop, with supervised time outside while you develop your duckie infrastructure. I agree with Miss Lydia that long term, giving them sheltered outdoor space is the best thing to do.

On the other hand, people do very well with indoor ducks. Duck Forum members are not unanimous about this, so you need to go with your instincts. Healthy happy ducks are the best feedback I can think of for how your management is doing.

So begin with their coop, make it roomy enough (mine are in their coop quite a bit this week due to very low temperatures, so I am glad we have over 100 sf for 13 ducks. And they are fine.), plan for how you are going to keep bedding dry with water and food in the coop (it can be done), and work out plans for an attached run so they can get some sunshine while you are out.

Storey's Guide recommends 10 sf per duck if they have access to pasture (I think there is some room for interpretation about what that is. Our pasture is a number of large gardens and wooded area, but I go with them to these places). 25 sf per duck without access to pasture.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Sorry Zacko didn't mean to freak you out, what Amiga is recommending is good. Just remember if your adding duckling into the mix the adults can hurt them even kill them so please keep them separate even if they are coming with a mama duck. like Amiga says plastic poultry netting is inexpensive and can be used to separate until you get everything the way you want it. Please don't get frustrated just plan the way you want your place set up for them taking all thats been said into your planning. We're here to help honest.

 

[ZakoHero]

ZakoHero, I think you are going to do fine. A large coop will be good to start with. I like to arrange mine so that if needed, I can separate ducks with some plastic poultry fence in case there are conflicts, or if someone needs a timeout for any reason.

My ducks have what I call a Day Pen. It is a 10'x16' pen covered top bottom and sides with fence. That's where they are when I am not able to be with them outside. They did not have that the first few weeks they were outside because I was building it!

They can manage in a large coop, with supervised time outside while you develop your duckie infrastructure. I agree with Miss Lydia that long term, giving them sheltered outdoor space is the best thing to do.

On the other hand, people do very well with indoor ducks. Duck Forum members are not unanimous about this, so you need to go with your instincts. Healthy happy ducks are the best feedback I can think of for how your management is doing.

So begin with their coop, make it roomy enough (mine are in their coop quite a bit this week due to very low temperatures, so I am glad we have over 100 sf for 13 ducks. And they are fine.), plan for how you are going to keep bedding dry with water and food in the coop (it can be done), and work out plans for an attached run so they can get some sunshine while you are out.

Storey's Guide recommends 10 sf per duck if they have access to pasture (I think there is some room for interpretation about what that is. Our pasture is a number of large gardens and wooded area, but I go with them to these places). 25 sf per duck without access to pasture.

Ok thanks,nice advice!

 

[ZakoHero]

Sorry Zacko didn't mean to freak you out, what Amiga is recommending is good. Just remember if your adding duckling into the mix the adults can hurt them even kill them so please keep them separate even if they are coming with a mama duck. like Amiga says plastic poultry netting is inexpensive and can be used to separate until you get everything the way you want it. Please don't get frustrated just plan the way you want your place set up for them taking all thats been said into your planning. We're here to help honest.

Thank you!

 

[Amiga]

I remember being just about overwhelmed when I thought about all the dangers to my flock a few years ago. Wowee.

I just kept a mental list of things to protect them from, and took frequent breaks to breathe, relax, enjoy the ducks, and then get back to the most critical parts of our "security plan." It is a tremendously steep learning curve. You will know so much more within three months than you had ever imagined.

I recall when I first decided to get ducks. My understanding was shallow, to say the least. Then I read Storey's Guide (not the genetics chapter, though) before getting the ducklings, got on BYC DF, read other items online, articles in Mother Earth News and other magazines, and got The Ultimate Pet Duck Guidebook from Majestic Waterfowl. Shew. And it took months.

BYC is great because you can tap decades of experience and perspective in minutes. The rest is valuable, too.

 

[cluckcluckluke]

Are my girls not laying because of the height of my cage?
I have my runners in a separate fenced of area for the day away from my chickens then at night they go into a cage big enough for the both of them but it's not very high, it's about 55cm (21.7 inches) in height. I know its a novice question but do my runner have to stretch out to lay an egg or should they still be able to lay in this cage? I let them out around 7:00-8:00 am at the moment but will start letting them out around 6:00am in about 3 days.

 

[Amiga]

I think that you can avoid neck problems if you get a taller enclosure. And since so many things can affect laying, I would not rule that out.

 

[cluckcluckluke]

I think that you can avoid neck problems if you get a taller enclosure. And since so many things can affect laying, I would not rule that out.

Oh really, I will get them out ASAP. Thanks.