Topic of the Week - Duck Housing

[PirateGirl]

I'm loving this thread! Thanks everyone for taking the time to post.

We are new to ducks this year and built their house/run this spring. The design is our own based on loads of research here and elsewhere.

View attachment 1241550

The house is elevated and measures ~8'x4' with four windows, a sliding door to the ramp that goes into the run, and a tailgate back door for clean out. It is uninsulated at this point. We use the deep litter method, which started with several inches of shavings and is now several inches of straw on top. They generally make their own nests in the straw in the duckhouse and lay there, but they have been periodically making nests in the straw underneath the duckhouse and laying there.

View attachment 1241545

The run is ~16'x8' if you include the area under the duckhouse. There is a small "pond" (~10 gallons) in the corner that we have not used since before freezing temps. They now get their water from a large heated bucket that has most of the top blocked by a piece of ply so they can't get in it. In the run, they get freechoice feed (pellets) in a rubber pan, as well as free choice grit/oyster shells and cracked corn when it's uber cold. The floor of the run is covered with straw, which is several inches deep at this point.

View attachment 1241547

We use a couple of wifi cameras to keep an eye on them and watch for any predator issues.

View attachment 1241548

In the winter, we bank straw bales around part of the run, which makes the whole area underneath the house enclosed.

View attachment 1241554

We also have plastic on two of the sides of the run. We generally leave the duckhouse door open, although with some -10 F temps this winter, we have locked them in a few times at night.

View attachment 1241549

They get time to run around outside the run in both the morning and the evening, but it's been pretty snowy and cold, so they have not always been up for their usual adventures.

View attachment 1241553

Thank you for sharing! This is great. Thank you for posting good explanations to go with your photos. Your setup seems to be adequate for all weather.

 

[3bird]

Thank you for sharing! This is great. Thank you for posting good explanations to go with your photos. Your setup seems to be adequate for all weather.

Thanks! It's working out so far, and we've had some unprecedented cold this winter (weeks of single digits in the day and down to negative double digits F some night). We are on the coast of Maine, so we also get a lot of wind. We debated long and hard on whether to insulate and/or heat the duckhouse. We ultimately decided to do neither, and we're pleased with that choice for now.

I'm VERY glad we have a covered run. I can't even imagine not having a covered run with rain and snow. Putting up the plastic on two sides and using the straw bales really has made a positive difference for the winter, especially since it means we rarely have to lock them in.

I should have noted that we did install a predator apron.

We're learning....but loving it!

 

[Conan]

I'm loving this thread! Thanks everyone for taking the time to post.

We are new to ducks this year and built their house/run this spring. The design is our own based on loads of research here and elsewhere.

View attachment 1241550

The house is elevated and measures ~8'x4' with four windows, a sliding door to the ramp that goes into the run, and a tailgate back door for clean out. It is uninsulated at this point. We use the deep litter method, which started with several inches of shavings and is now several inches of straw on top. They generally make their own nests in the straw in the duckhouse and lay there, but they have been periodically making nests in the straw underneath the duckhouse and laying there.

View attachment 1241545

The run is ~16'x8' if you include the area under the duckhouse. There is a small "pond" (~10 gallons) in the corner that we have not used since before freezing temps. They now get their water from a large heated bucket that has most of the top blocked by a piece of ply so they can't get in it. In the run, they get freechoice feed (pellets) in a rubber pan, as well as free choice grit/oyster shells and cracked corn when it's uber cold. The floor of the run is covered with straw, which is several inches deep at this point.

View attachment 1241547

We use a couple of wifi cameras to keep an eye on them and watch for any predator issues.

View attachment 1241548

In the winter, we bank straw bales around part of the run, which makes the whole area underneath the house enclosed.

View attachment 1241554

We also have plastic on two of the sides of the run. We generally leave the duckhouse door open, although with some -10 F temps this winter, we have locked them in a few times at night.

View attachment 1241549

They get time to run around outside the run in both the morning and the evening, but it's been pretty snowy and cold, so they have not always been up for their usual adventures.

View attachment 1241553[/QUOTE
That is one amazing set-up! I love the banked straw idea - very cool and beautiful to boot!

 

[Conan]

whoops - posted my reply inside the quote - anyhow, just a thumbs up on your awesome set-up. Love it.

 

[3bird]

whoops - posted my reply inside the quote - anyhow, just a thumbs up on your awesome set-up. Love it.

Thanks! Do you have a build thread for yours? It sounds great!

Here is our build thread: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/our-maine-duck-house.1177775/

 

[Conan]

Thanks! Do you have a build thread for yours? It sounds great!

Here is our build thread: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/our-maine-duck-house.1177775/

Super cool... Alas, I do not have a build thread. I am terrible about even taking photos. I should really get some. It turned out really well and I definitely love having all that literal crap for the garden. We have a seasonal pond/creek so the ducks are always pretty pleased with themselves. I think I will try growing some clematis vines over top to pretty it up a bit, but I guess the ducks don't care what the place looks like - just my own personal problem!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Be sure to research before planting vines etc some plants are poisonous to poultry. I have clematis growing in big tubs and put fencing around them to keep bills out.

 

[Conan]

Be sure to research before planting vines etc some plants are poisonous to poultry. I have clematis growing in big tubs and put fencing around them to keep bills out.

Good point. I think the hoops are out far enough from the skirt so that the ducks can't reach them, but I will definitely measure to be sure.

 

[hereorthere]

Be sure to research before planting vines etc some plants are poisonous to poultry. I have clematis growing in big tubs and put fencing around them to keep bills out.

Glad you posted this as I was planning on replanting my clematis by the ducks and chickens, before the evergreen one started flowering, since the hubs wants the arbor for his grapes. Wonder if there's a thread about what's a no-go - off to search.....

 

[Miss Lydia]

https://www.bing.com/search?q=posio...0ecd0bf2864c2ca7d&cc=US&setlang=en-US&PC=DCTS