what sort of housing do ducks need?

[Run-A-Muck Ranch]

Our ducks live right with the chickens. I have 3 muscovy's that share the chicken coop with 45+ chickens. Yeah the ducks can be a little messy, but I have the pool outside for them, and the water in the coop has a lip for the water to go into. That way the ducks can't get into that water. They free range each day-all day. Coop opens at 5:30 each morning and I close it up about 9:30 each night. The ducks sometimes will even roost up with the chickens.

 

[hippiehen]

Everyone told me that my ducks would never go in a pen at night (they are free to roam all day) but they are actually more reliable than the hens! My husband built a box for them with a square tubing frame, covered the top and bottom with plywood and the sides with heavy gage steel mesh. The front is a sliding door also made of plywood - it's a mini duck fortress!!

 

[DuckLady]

Ducks are very much creatures of habit.
They thrive on routine. Once they get used to going in at night, they will usually easily be put to bed.


Of course, they would rather perch on your sofa, watch "Fly Away Home" and dream of being a Canada Goose while eating lettuce and watermelon and pooping all over your furniture. They would also like access to a filled bathtub and would love it if you sprinkled worm filled muddy dirt clods on your floor for their snacking and doodling enjoyment.

However, husbands around here being unreasonable as they are

, the best housing is a place they can shelter from the elements if they choose within a secure pen at least at night. And during the day depending on your predator issues.

 

[kdcrws]

does any one have pics they can share?

 

[DuckLady]

Quote:
You might have snapping turtles in your pond. It only takes one loss that is seen by the others to keep them out of the pond. Ducks are not the smartest in the world, but some things get right through their little duck brains.

 

[shelleyb1969]

What about the winter? Do they need a "pond" to swim in or just a small tub of water occasionally? I'm considering getting my son a duckling and put it with our chicks this winter.

 

[michelle1017]

We are first time duck owners since this summer. We have a pair my daughter and I smuggled in from the neighbor. Hubby said they would be fine free ranging in the front yard, but we convinced him to build a pen in the yard around our small goldfish pond that wasn't in use. We started out with a pet carrier with the door off for them to go in and asked hubby to build a simple 3 sided box for them to have in the winter. Well, we do nothing small around our house and they ended up with a duck "condo". Looks similar to a dog house complete with siding and shingles. They do sleep in it at night, but rarely go in it during the day, especially if it is cool and raining!

 

[Henrietta23]

Quote:
Mine have dog houses also. I was able to get both for free. One pair goes in on their own every night, the other pair I have to put in. I make them go in because it's the only way they're safe at night.

 

[Run-A-Muck Ranch]

Quote:
I don't think the 'need' it in the winter so much for swimming. But ours have access to 'unfrozen' water 24/7 in the winter. We use the electric dog water dishes in the winter for the birds. It's not alot of room for them to swim obviously, but they will occassionally splash around and clean themselves off in the winter with it.
They do seem to like to test each water dish to see which one they want for drinking, and which one they want for cleaning. We use 3 in the coop. Chickens, Guineas and Ducks share one for drinking, and then the ducks have one for cleaning.
The geese and turkeys each have there own in another part of the barn.
Our geese will swim in the winter so they have a large barrel cut length wise for swimming and then another mainly for drinking.

 

[Katy]

Quote:
Mine have dog houses also. I was able to get both for free. One pair goes in on their own every night, the other pair I have to put in. I make them go in because it's the only way they're safe at night.

I suppose I should add that my doghouses are in a secure pen so I don't shut them in the doghouses unless they're calling for lots of snow. Since they're call ducks I worry they might be buried by blowing snow!