What is your opinion???

[Hennyhandler]

I am curious about something. I don't have ducks but was wondering if you bought one of those hard plastic kiddie pools, dug down into the ground and put it in with a drain and possibly something to move the water away from the area how much would the cost be at the end. If anyone that has done this could tell me about the cons and pros, what they would do differently, and how much it cost to do this I would grealty appreciate it.

My mind is wondering all over the place and I got to really wondering about this whole duck thing. Also, what you used or would use as a place to keep them? I hgave seen some and was wondering why they aren't as big as chicken coops normally are?

Sorry for all the questions but I am overflowing with them!!

 

[Goat_Walker]

As far as size of duck pens - A lot of people free range, so th epens dont have to be as big as they would if the ducks were in there 24/7 .
it also depends on the size of the duck and how many you have for the size of the pen and pool.

I have four kiddie pools for my 16 + ducks. If you buy a small ( $10 ) kiddie pool from walmart then you are good to go for three - four ducks to swim around happily. But ive seen 10 - 12 fit in my small kiddie pool , they just end up on top of and under one another.

My large ( $15 ) kiddie pools have enough room for 6-7 to fit comfotably. But then again ive seen ALL of my ducks jump in it when im filling it up.

I forgot the size requirements, but Know I can fit at least 7-10 ducks comfortably in one of my 20 x 18 pens.




The underground pool idea sounds great - only you will have to find someway to drain out not only the water but also all the poo and mud that collects at the bottom. I just have mine sitting on top of the ground so hopefully someone else can help better

Sorry, I think Im rambling but its way past my beddy by time, lol, so please excuse it.

 

[Amiga]

Cost depends a bit on how good you are at finding freebies, and how well set up you are for making the mods to the kiddie pool, and digging a hole.

I had to add the smiley, because digging a hole in my yard is QUITE the undertaking. Dig one inch, hit a rock, pry it out (could be 4 ounces, could be 100 pounds). If you can do this yourself or get some other very kind person to do it for you, it saves money.

Also, remember that for the pool to drain, the drain hole has to be higher than the outlet. No problem in my case - I live on a hillside, and decided (after much consideration), to place the duck pen and pool fairly high on the landscape, so most of the gardens are down-gradient of the pool. I plan to siphon the water out of the pool and onto the gardens or compost piles.

Another idea I have is to use a hand-powered bilge-pump to empty the pool. That will run $25 to $35. I may pump out all but the bottom few inches, and bucket the sludge out by hand.

Fittings for a drain will probably run less than $10 each, unless prices spike up. You'll need a drill with a bit that makes holes, and a steady hand, because if you push too hard, you can crack the plastic. I use rubber gaskets inside and out, some people use silicon caulking. The tools cost more than the parts, in my experience. But the tools can be used again. Drills are 50 to 250 dollars, depending on your level of fancy. I have a simple bit that makes holes but works best in really thick, flexible plastic (like food drums). I don't know that it would work with kiddie pool plastic, which is thinner and more brittle. If you get a nice keyhole drill, that can set you back $30 or so. Again, it can be reused.

Dave Holderread suggests no less than three square feet per bird for their shelter (I remember that number clearly), and I think no less than 10 square feet per bird for their pen (need to check that).

In my stony soil, my plan is to try to dig down about five inches, and make up the difference (10 inch deep fiberglass pond liner) by piling soil and stone up around the edges.

To keep the birds from getting too hot in the summer, I have placed their shelter and pool (in my design, so far) under a sugar maple, which means I will be cleaning samaras (maple seeds) and leaves out of the pool. Okay. Part of the deal.

I plan to have a night pen, 4' x 8', wrapped top to bottom in half inch hardware cloth, and a 4' x 8' shelter, 4' high, which I am building from plywood. The roof will be sun-tuff over hardware cloth on a frame of 2" x 4"s.

 

[goosedragon]

Chicken coops are usually taller because chickens like to roost (sleep on a perch up off the ground) Ducks other than Muscovies and wood ducks don't roost. You already have answers on your pond question.

 

[TriciaHowe]

I have ducks and 2 kiddie pools. I find it MUCH easier to just dump, rinse and refill the pools every evening. I buy 2 new ones every springs (about $7 each) and have had great success with them. These are the smaller pools. I found the large plastic ones too heavy to dump when it was full of water but the smaller ones are perfect. I have a LOT of ducks and these are great