Topic of the Week - Duck Housing

[Henrik Petersson]

For my chickens I have a wind block outside by the ramp/pop door. I have found it really helps them to venture outside when the weather is nasty and gives a gentle transition. It also helps prevent the pop door from acting as a wind tunnel into the coop.

Our chickens have one too. It's a really simple solution and I don't see any reason to not make one if you have the means.

Just remember two things if you do:
1) A wind block will look an awful lot like a nest box to a hen (of any species). Expect to find the occasional egg there.
2) Make the roof detachable - it REALLY helps with the cleaning.

 

[PirateGirl]

What about nest boxes? As a soon to be duck mama, I have read mixed things. It sounds like ducks are less picky where they lay than chickens. Do you all provide special nest boxes? Do your ducks actually use the nest boxes? Did you have to train them to consistently use a nest box?

 

[Hope Hughes]

What about nest boxes? As a soon to be duck mama, I have read mixed things. It sounds like ducks are less picky where they lay than chickens. Do you all provide special nest boxes? Do your ducks actually use the nest boxes? Did you have to train them to consistently use a nest box?

My hen lays where ever she feels like it. Sometimes in the dog box, but most of the time its just laying in the run somewhere. I will put a nest box in but i dought she will use it lol it would be more for them to have a comfortable place to sleep.
Maybe others have had better luck with them laying in boxes?

​

 

[Miss Lydia]

Runner/Buffs duck house plus feed room. attached to our home.

This house has Muscovy's and chickens in it
{I use have better pics but lost them all when my computer died} so need to start again.

My ducks lay in the deep shaving inside their houses, sometimes a few of my scovy's will get into a chicken nest box to lay too.

My crew has half acre to be on during the day and locked up at night they have 2 kiddy pools to play in and muck up except in dead of winter then they get a cement mixing tub.

Broody/hospital/ winter hang out

 

[Henrik Petersson]

What about nest boxes? As a soon to be duck mama, I have read mixed things. It sounds like ducks are less picky where they lay than chickens. Do you all provide special nest boxes? Do your ducks actually use the nest boxes? Did you have to train them to consistently use a nest box?

Our hens literally fight to lay there (which means one should perhaps provide scovy hens with more that one nest box per three individuals). No training needed.

 

[Lazy Farmer]

I am totally new to this so I am lurking in the shadows of the thread. Absorbing all of the collected knowledge like a sponge.
Thank you Sumi for starting this topic. We are in the mists of our construction plans for our ducky habitat. So this topic is currently priceless to me..
Totally following this feed.

 

[chickens really]

Another exciting Topic...

I have Three Duck Houses.
One is a 10X10 covered Dog run with an insulated Dog house..Its great for my Ducks. It can easily House 6 standard sized Ducks or 10 Calls..

The other is a Chicken Coop that has the Coop up top and the run bellow..Coop is 4X4 and Run is 4X12 long.
That Houses up to 6 too.

Then I have a little prefab Coop/Run that is used as a nursery/ hospital or new intro pen.

I provide free range time as I am out with my Ducks daily if weather is good. In winter I have a Straw bed down in my Runs and in the Houses for them to keep feet warm. In summer all straw is removed and pine shavings are used in the Houses only...I also use sand as a floor in my Runs. I only provide kiddie pools in the runs that house the Ducklings. The Adult Birds get out to use the kiddie pools daily that are out in my yard.
I only run heat in my Coops if temps drop below -10C
Never too warm as my water freezes still.
I use rubber bowls so easy to knock out the ice.

Summer is way easier with Ducks. I spend hours outside as they free range.
Ducks are not for everyone..Although I can't imagine a life without the messy wreaking crew..

 

[Henrik Petersson]

I just want to stress that my ducks are muscovy ducks, which are a different species (not just breed, but species) than the common duck (i.e. all breeds of domestic duck), and may well have different housing needs.

 

[chickens really]

My Houses..

 

[chickens really]

What about nest boxes? As a soon to be duck mama, I have read mixed things. It sounds like ducks are less picky where they lay than chickens. Do you all provide special nest boxes? Do your ducks actually use the nest boxes? Did you have to train them to consistently use a nest box?

I do not provide nest boxes..Mine just make nests in either the house or behind it..