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

[Lupa Duende]

hanging up cabbage in the barn is a great idea, thank you. I bought a flock block for them when they were wee and they nibbled it happily when they were in the aviary. Now that they are day-ranging (I shut them up at night) I am trying to figure out what objects would be exciting to pick at when they need to be shut in. (Peanut butter smooshed into fruit? as long as the dogs don't get to it first..., the hounds always know when the ducklings get cat food treats.)
I am looking for ideas to keep them (and the goats and chickens and guinea fowl) from getting too stir crazy during bad weather.
Any other ideas? Advice?

 

[Miss Lydia]

hanging up cabbage in the barn is a great idea, thank you. I bought a flock block for them when they were wee and they nibbled it happily when they were in the aviary. Now that they are day-ranging (I shut them up at night) I am trying to figure out what objects would be exciting to pick at when they need to be shut in. (Peanut butter smooshed into fruit? as long as the dogs don't get to it first..., the hounds always know when the ducklings get cat food treats.)
I am looking for ideas to keep them (and the goats and chickens and guinea fowl) from getting too stir crazy during bad weather.
Any other ideas? Advice?

I would be careful with peanut butter they could choke on it. for goats a plastic kid ball, the flock block for chickens and guinesa and ducks too and I don't know if ducks would like this i haven't seen mine messing with the one i put out for my geese but I took a cotton rope and knotted it about 4 times at different lengths then singed the bottom and hung it for my geese to play with.

 

[Lupa Duende]

Thank you for the ideas. Also, the caution on peanut butter makes sense; I need to re-read the Holderread's book on ducks. Are there any other books that would help? I am looking for something as comprehensive as the Storey's Chicken book, which has a wealth of information about raising and less about breeds. The breeds' physical characteristics don't interest me nearly as much as details on feeding, growing forage, beating winter boredom...

 

[canard]

Hi All,

My dog got very sick all of the sudden and had to be put to sleep last Monday. Heartbroken. Nothing done on coop or run. I just go to work and try to enjoy my duckies each afternoon as soon as I can get home. House is a mess. Pictures soon hopefully.

 

[kellypepperk]

oh goodness - I'm so sorry. Can you share a picture of your pooch? They are so special to us, aren't they?
Thinking of you today <<hugs>>

 

[Miss Lydia]

So sorry, it's hard to lose our friends.

 

[canard]

Here is a picture of some of my Pekin excited to look for bugs in fresh straw.

 

[70%cocoa]

So sorry about your doggie

I hope you can find some peace watching your ducks.

 

[canard]

Let me try adding a few pictures again. Pekin and Khakis. Pekin in fresh straw happily honking and foraging for bugs.

 

[canard]

My Mom took the cutest picture of the dog and ducks. I made a print but need to get the digital file. One of these days, when I get it, I'll post it. It shows Max, my dog, looking down at a cutting board of fresh cucumber while I hug a Pekin. Both he and the Pekin are staring at the food, as are the other 7 Pekin waiting for their treats.