would this be a good shleter?

[elisenicole]

I was just wondering if this would be a good alternative for a coop for my 2 muscovies to sleep in at night.....i figured since it comes apart in the middle it can easily be hosed out daily or every other day since i plan on putting hay in there also for bedding...............http://www.tractorsupply.com/en/store/petmate-petbarn-shelter-large?cm_vc=-10005#BVRRWidgetID
what do you guys think?? bad idea? good idea? look for a different dog house? i just dont have the funds to buy a 300-400 coop right now. they are in my large fenced in backyard

 

[teach1rusl]

In my area, craigslist has a ton of doghouses like this for sale MUCH cheaper than new. So if that's what you decide to go with, I'd definitely check craigslist FIRST (check doghouse and dog house - because folks list them differently)...

 

[Miss Lydia]

I was just wondering if this would be a good alternative for a coop for my 2 muscovies to sleep in at night.....i figured since it comes apart in the middle it can easily be hosed out daily or every other day since i plan on putting hay in there also for bedding...............http://www.tractorsupply.com/en/store/petmate-petbarn-shelter-large?cm_vc=-10005#BVRRWidgetID
what do you guys think?? bad idea? good idea? look for a different dog house? i just dont have the funds to buy a 300-400 coop right now. they are in my large fenced in backyard

First off no windows for ventilation, and not a door to lock up at night for protection from preds. Ducks need a secure shelter or your going to end up with dead or wounded ducks, and lots of ventilation for their health. there's a lot of info on BYC about housing for ducks .and

 

[Amiga]

I was wondering if this is just going to be a little spot for them inside a secure area, or if this would be all that's between them, the elements and predators.

I have used that company's products - temporary fencing, and it's nice and handy for inside an already-secure shelter.

What about attaching three sturdy (one inch?) plywood 4 ft x 4ft boards (give or take - I didn't do the trig for proper proportions) reinforced around the edges? Like an A-frame, with sturdy metal half inch hardware cloth panels at each end for ventilation? One or both end panels could be hinged, with double, locking hasps to keep predators from opening them. If you cover the inside with vinyl flooring - often available free from contractors' scrap - you could clean that out pretty easily.

It would be small, so it would still need to be in a fenced area. Predators rolled my rabbit's hutch down a hill and shattered it in order to get to her, years ago. So smaller night shelters need to be secured somehow.

I like the simplicity of what you are looking at. Three plywood sheets and a few 2x4s, with some flooring sheets might go together pretty quickly, especially if you have a friend, neighbor or family member who's handy.

 

[Going Quackers]

First off no windows for ventilation, and not a door to lock up at night for protection from preds. Ducks need a secure shelter or your going to end up with dead or wounded ducks, and lots of ventilation for their health. there's a lot of info on BYC about housing for ducks .and

Agreed, unless you leave the door open and it's dropped into a secure run overnight, you'll loose them to preds. I would suggest some basic plywood and some hardware cloth. Chicken coops for dummies has a minimal coop you can build for abouts 200$ i would check it out. Even using skids is an option for wood and they are usually found free.

I get tight budgets but for overnight ducks are vulnerable and if you loose them you've saved nothing.