Topic of the Week - Duck Housing

[Lazy Farmer]

@Miss Lydia

This was late summer when we got it up and out. The walk was upgraded as it was far too narrow. And the ventilation in the top right has a board that extends all the way to the front now. That opening might be good for summer, but it was way too much for the current cold. Its also reflected on the opposite side of the house. The back lip is also now sealed. We ran out of wood so we had to seal that part up the next weekend.


View attachment 1238017
The whole side opens, difficult in the cold and ice as it will freeze shut, but I can get it to open back up with some prying. The idea of herding them in through the big door might work
View attachment 1238018

Here's Susan next to it, for scale. (this was late summer/early autumn when the weather was warm, I promise my kids aren't slopping around in the mud in this weather)
View attachment 1238031

And this is the one and only picture I have of them sleeping inside, which is the one time we caught them all and placed them in there. Those are my original four. Starla, the only duck with Salt, Pepper and Java.
View attachment 1238036

I believe the floor in your house is constructed of plywood. But is the plywood treated with something like Thompson's water seal? Or does the plywood absorb some of the waste matter? I am in The Mists of design of my duck house right now for the spring and I was considering adding a sheet of vinyl flooring perhaps or waterproofing it so the wet mess can't soak through and rot out the plywood.

 

[kanina]

I believe the floor in your house is constructed of plywood. But is the plywood treated with something like Thompson's water seal? Or does the plywood absorb some of the waste matter? I am in The Mists of design of my duck house right now for the spring and I was considering adding a sheet of vinyl flooring perhaps or waterproofing it so the wet mess can't soak through and rot out the plywood.

The actual floor is plywood, however on top of it are vinyl tiles. They have a light parkay look to them. I would recommend tiles or a vinyl sheet as it does help with clean up, at least with chickens. If you bring it up the side a bit, as well, it makes it easy to hose down in the summer.

I'll get a new ramp built as soon as I can. Maybe I can convince DH to run to the store with me tonight.

 

[Bellamausi]

My coop is a sectioned off, predator proof area inside the back of my barn. The floor is concrete and I have been using straw bedding. Are wood shavings better to use?

They are only in there at night. Free range during the day

 

[quackingdom]

I don't like the fact that my scovies won't go into the coop either. They can; I've seen them all go in there from time to time, but they sleep outside every night, and the drake gets frostbite.

I also don't like the idea of the spectacle and stress of herding them in every night.

What could be another solution? Putting a big windbreak in the pen with roosts in it, and something elevated on the ground for the drake to sit on (he won't roost)? Maybe something with three closed sides and one side completely open?

The three-sided thing sounds fine, but I don't think they would prefer it over their coop and it might not be warm enough.

I too just walk behind them to herd them. No "spectacle and stress," at least not most of the time. Sometimes there are really stubborn ducks who just don't want to go in and use their very fast dodging skills to get around me and run back home.

For the most part, though, all my ducks know their routine very well. Around 5 to 5:30 PM I come, and by that time most of the ducks are already waiting either inside the pen (the door is always open) or snatching some last-minute foraging time just outside. If I come really late, after dark, they're usually all inside already.

Our ducks herd easily too, but I believe they would likely walk past the pop door.

Maybe make a funnel? Two boards or something in a V-shape towards the pop door.

I use a blue 3-ft stick (actually a PVC pipe) when I herd my ducks because it acts like an extension of my arm and helps to direct them, especially when I have a large group of ducks spread out.

Also, treats could work, but when I first started training my ducks to go inside at night, I tried to bribe them in with their supper. They very quickly realized it was a bribe and refused to eat from my hand if they thought I was planning to catch them and put them inside. Neither would they follow the food to the door.

 

[lilybug51]

I have a large 10x12 metal shed that acts as my coop. I have a ladder made out of sticks (4x4) for perching. 6 nesting boxes made out of empty kitty litter tubs set about 2 feet off the ground with 2x4 perches above (I recently added a poop hammock). I am using deep litter method plus I added 10 straw bales around the perimeter. 22 hens, 2 roosters, 2 turkeys and 3 call ducks all share this coop. My ducks have a large dog kennel to use as nesting box but they refuse. I have found eggs everywhere including the middle of the run and I found 8 eggs; 7 duck and one chicken egg behind the dog crate...how did she convince a chicken to lay an egg back there? Did she steal it and if so how?

 

[chickens really]

I have a large 10x12 metal shed that acts as my coop. I have a ladder made out of sticks (4x4) for perching. 6 nesting boxes made out of empty kitty litter tubs set about 2 feet off the ground with 2x4 perches above (I recently added a poop hammock). I am using deep litter method plus I added 10 straw bales around the perimeter. 22 hens, 2 roosters, 2 turkeys and 3 call ducks all share this coop. My ducks have a large dog kennel to use as nesting box but they refuse. I have found eggs everywhere including the middle of the run and I found 8 eggs; 7 duck and one chicken egg behind the dog crate...how did she convince a chicken to lay an egg back there? Did she steal it and if so how?

Ducks and Chickens can carry eggs up under their wings...

 

[lilybug51]

I don't like the fact that my scovies won't go into the coop either. They can; I've seen them all go in there from time to time, but they sleep outside every night, and the drake gets frostbite.

I also don't like the idea of the spectacle and stress of herding them in every night.

What could be another solution? Putting a big windbreak in the pen with roosts in it, and something elevated on the ground for the drake to sit on (he won't roost)? Maybe something with three closed sides and one side completely open?

I am a total newbie but mine would not go in until I added a feed pan (wide and low) with water now they go in every night.

 

[lilybug51]

Ducks and Chickens can carry eggs up under their wings...

SERIOUSLY!?!? So she probably stole it from one of my new layers that haven't figured out how to use nest box.

 

[lomine]

@Miss Lydia

This was late summer when we got it up and out. The walk was upgraded as it was far too narrow. And the ventilation in the top right has a board that extends all the way to the front now. That opening might be good for summer, but it was way too much for the current cold. Its also reflected on the opposite side of the house. The back lip is also now sealed. We ran out of wood so we had to seal that part up the next weekend.


View attachment 1238017
The whole side opens, difficult in the cold and ice as it will freeze shut, but I can get it to open back up with some prying. The idea of herding them in through the big door might work
View attachment 1238018

Here's Susan next to it, for scale. (this was late summer/early autumn when the weather was warm, I promise my kids aren't slopping around in the mud in this weather)
View attachment 1238031

And this is the one and only picture I have of them sleeping inside, which is the one time we caught them all and placed them in there. Those are my original four. Starla, the only duck with Salt, Pepper and Java.
View attachment 1238036

I would try using a wider ramp and add some treads to it. Wood can get slippery, especially when wet, so treads will give them something to grip and will prevent them from slipping backwards. I also painted my old ramp with paint mixed with sand to give them extra traction and protect the wood.

 

[FarmerGirl101]

View attachment 1236967 View attachment 1236968 View attachment 1236969 View attachment 1236972 View attachment 1236974 My Houses..

Thank you!!!!!! I love the idea of having plastic sheet around the sides as when it rains it can be a pain so I love that idea. Great timing as well as i am getting two drakes so I need to rain proof the run!