Topic of the Week - Duck Housing

[Henrik Petersson]

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?

 

[Miss Lydia]

That would work 3 sided wind break and top to keep snow out and rain if you get either or. side open to the south.

My ducks herd very easily it's walking slowly behind them not in a hurry that makes the difference.

 

[Henrik Petersson]

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

 

[Miss Lydia]

LOL
Open the big door up get them use to going in that way then use the pop I can just open my arm out and they know what I want.

 

[Henrik Petersson]

The big door is on the outside of the pen...

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

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?

Can you train them with treats to go in?

 

[Henrik Petersson]

Can you train them with treats to go in?

That would require a sustained effort over days, if not weeks, and I could never get my parents to do that (it's their ducks).

 

[kanina]

@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.

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

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)

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.

 

[kanina]

Currently, the trio are sleeping in the bottom of the prefab TSC coop I have. Its surrounded by straw. We had great straw paths all around the coop, and then we got freezing rain and 4 more inches of snow, so they're a bit frozen, but still good insulators.

 

[chickens really]

Build a way wider ramp into the Coop..They won't use that..Just modify and it should be easier to heard them in or they might just go in on their own...