We Need Your Input! 4 Season Duck Coop & Run Construction Suggestions & Photos

[kellypepperk]

The truck cap is temporary and fortunately is also within a secure fenced front yard. We got the framing and roof supports up today on the permanent "Duck Shack." Still rough looking, but we're getting there! Hubby still isn't quite seeing my vision of using the doors, though - and plumb and level are waaaay over rated!!

 

[Miss Lydia]

The truck cap is temporary and fortunately is also within a secure fenced front yard. We got the framing and roof supports up today on the permanent "Duck Shack." Still rough looking, but we're getting there! Hubby still isn't quite seeing my vision of using the doors, though - and plumb and level are waaaay over rated!!

I know you haven't asked but I feel I also need to stress the importance of ventilation in both chicken and duck housing, ammonia can build up over time even with the best of cleaning and can cause serious health issues for both species. lots of venting up at roof line with hardware cloth for pred protection and windows either bought second hand or just cut outs using hardware cloth to secure. We found some really awesome windows at habitat for humanity resale store for 3.00 apiece. even in winter ventilation is very important. And I hope your not offended that I gave my 2cents worth. Look forward to seeing finished project.

 

[kellypepperk]

I'm happy to get all the advice I can get!

Canard, I'll try to get a better pix later of the doors.
Cheers all!

 

[canard]

Hi Kellypepperk & Miss Lydia. We have not even begun our "master coop & run" yet. It is really cold out tonight. It is reminding me that winter is coming. My parents visited over the weekend. They left yesterday morning. My Dad misses the ducks already. They are in their coops for the night. I offered to go out and hold the phone up while I talk to them. Even when sleepy they seem to love evening visits and attention. I have a hard time NOT going out there a few times to double check on them. Dad absolutely LOVES the ducks. My folks love to visit siblings with grandkids.....I dare say the ducks are at least as popular as my nieces and nephews. We have had the heat on more often than not the past 2 weeks. I would love to see pictures. : ) I printed up some 8 x 10s of my dog & ducks at Costco the other day.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Hi Kellypepperk & Miss Lydia. We have not even begun our "master coop & run" yet. It is really cold out tonight. It is reminding me that winter is coming. My parents visited over the weekend. They left yesterday morning. My Dad misses the ducks already. They are in their coops for the night. I offered to go out and hold the phone up while I talk to them. Even when sleepy they seem to love evening visits and attention. I have a hard time NOT going out there a few times to double check on them. Dad absolutely LOVES the ducks. My folks love to visit siblings with grandkids.....I dare say the ducks are at least as popular as my nieces and nephews. We have had the heat on more often than not the past 2 weeks. I would love to see pictures. : ) I printed up some 8 x 10s of my dog & ducks at Costco the other day.

I want to see pics.

 

[Stumpy]

I want to see pics.

Me, too!

It sounds like those ducks are well-loved!

 

[kellypepperk]

We still have a long ways to go, but...
here is the back side of the Duck Shack - we used pallets for the framing and two doors hung horizontally.



and the front side, we cut a door in half and sided the rest with old barn board.


I can't wait to see what you've done for the duckies!

 

[Miss Lydia]

We still have a long ways to go, but...
here is the back side of the Duck Shack - we used pallets for the framing and two doors hung horizontally.



and the front side, we cut a door in half and sided the rest with old barn board.


I can't wait to see what you've done for the duckies!

 

[Lupa Duende]

that's a fantastic coop!
right now my ducks (i only have three) are being trained to free-range within four acres of cattle-fenced property, which means that i pick them up and move them around within a 30ftx30ft dog kennel. for all new animals to our place; I work to habituate them to the other critters, noise, smells, screams to prevent undue stress when the doors are left open. i have moved them into goats' night-time corral this evening, but i shut them in at dusk into their duck-mobile (think of a dog-house on a trolley). all of my critters will somehow be sharing the same barn/garage/workshop this winter, which has yet to be built as I was waiting for money, time, school (hurrah!), ad absurdum.
I don't know how I will keep the ducks happy over the winter in the barn as the paddle pools will not be much fun (i am up here in Canada).
IF anyone else can chime in on how to keep animals content over the winter, I would also appreciate.
thanks in advance

 

[Miss Lydia]

that's a fantastic coop!
right now my ducks (i only have three) are being trained to free-range within four acres of cattle-fenced property, which means that i pick them up and move them around within a 30ftx30ft dog kennel. for all new animals to our place; I work to habituate them to the other critters, noise, smells, screams to prevent undue stress when the doors are left open. i have moved them into goats' night-time corral this evening, but i shut them in at dusk into their duck-mobile (think of a dog-house on a trolley). all of my critters will somehow be sharing the same barn/garage/workshop this winter, which has yet to be built as I was waiting for money, time, school (hurrah!), ad absurdum.
I don't know how I will keep the ducks happy over the winter in the barn as the paddle pools will not be much fun (i am up here in Canada).
IF anyone else can chime in on how to keep animals content over the winter, I would also appreciate.
thanks in advance

They won't need a pool over winter, just make sure they have fresh water in a bucket so they can keep their faces washed. Heated buckets work great in cold climates. scatter scratch down on the ground for them in the evening before putting them to bed so they can have some fun. I give my ducks and chickens heads of cabbage hung up so they can have fun pulling off pieces and it gives them something to do, even heads of lettuce. I always see produce on sale and snatch it up. Something else they may like is a flock block they sell them at TSC, I have seen my ducks nibbling on them, [I actually buy them for the chickens} the main thing is don't let their water freeze they need a constant supply of fresh water. [that they can get dirty] LOL