The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: ayrt1010 on October 01, 2012, 06:03:56 pm
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Just wondering what a suitable house for some ducks would be??
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Mine are in an old kids wendyhouse the previous owners of our place conveniently left in the garden. It has been patched up a lot, due to blowing over a few times and getting damaged, but we are determined to make it last as long as possible. Pretty much any kind of shed type building would do.
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One lot of mine are in a 'coop' made from an old table tennis table cut in halves for the walls with a felt roof. Unlike chickens, ducks basically don't climb (my Aylesburys seem to struggle getting over a four inch doorstep even with a ramp attached) so you want something that sits on the ground. It should be weather tight, but with ventilation, if necessary drill a couple of rows of holes into the top of the walls or better replace a window with mesh if you've got a shed. Organic standards (which we go by even though not certified organic) require a maximum of ten birds per square meter for permanent housing. (http://www.soilassociation.org/organicstandards (http://www.soilassociation.org/organicstandards)). You'll also need to clean the house out pretty regularly as ducks poo an awful lot so either a shed that you can walk in to, or removal or hinge-able walls/roof is vital.
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I meant ot have hens first but then OH arrived with a load of ducks - hence they live in a hen house ;D . Some even lay their eggs in the nesting boxes :thumbsup: :&>