Thinking about making a couple duck tractors

[aineheartsyou]

I have been thinking about what I want to do when all of my ducklings are grown. I think I want to do a duck tractor similar to the garden ark http://www.thegardencoop.com/ but make the foot print 4x8 and make the nesting area the full 4x8 with a ramp to get up in it. will this fit 15 ducks? what are your thoughts?

 

[The Duck ABC's]

Way to small. A tractor is good for when you want ducklings to be outside and be protected, but it is to small for full grown ducks. I put 10 ducks into a 10x10 foot space at night. In the day they get way more. I do have a small outdoor pen area that is 10x20 and that is to small for them. Its ok for temporary lockup, but not to live in.

 

[IRL]

4x8 for 15 birds? Much too small. Each duck should have 4 sq feet in the coop, and around 10 sq feet in the run. A 12x12 run (something with around 150 sq feet) and a coop with 60 square ft would be the right size. It would be hard to make a tractor that big.

 

[aineheartsyou]

this is just for night time or when i am not home. they will be free ranging the rest of the time so its actually 4x8 on top of 4x8

 

[aineheartsyou]

Storey's guide to raising ducks suggests 2-6sqft per bird for the sleeping quarters. 4x8 will give 10 birds 3sqft, if you double that, then its enough for 20 birds. it would give 15 birds a tiny bit more than 4sqft per bird