The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: mowhaugh on August 18, 2013, 09:27:54 am
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Now you have all convinced me we need (?) ducks, and we have the pond sorted, I need to make a duck house - what does it need to be like?
Sorry to be so dim!
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A shed! Honestly, they only need shelter from the worst of weathers - they will lay anywhere and stay outside if they can.
If it is low roofed make sure there is an easy way for you to clean it out. Mine was difficult - we used a dog kennel, flattened the roof, and hinged it to one side so I could lift it for cleaning. But it was difficult to get that last bit of muck out before putting in fresh bedding. You could use a (cheap, B & Q, B & M, Homebase, etc) garden shed with a shelf half way up to hold spare feeders, drinkers, food etc - easy to get in and out and clean.
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I've made them from plywood, creosoted. If runners, it needs to be taller than average. I hinge the side, so I can open it up and scrape it out.
The right hand one is one of the duck houses, the other two are makeshift chick houses (dog kennels), for when I have young stock who need to be separate still from the others.
I shut my ducks in at night, to avoid feeding foxes.
(http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k70/jaykayg/Kidsandducklings008.jpg)
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Quickly become an MP and the tax payer will foot the bill for you to have a custom built posh model on a little island in the middle of your pond :roflanim:
Sorry :sofa:
We made our Muscovies a custom-built house with a nice shallow ramp, a roof that came off for cleaning and carrying handles on each side like a sedan chair. The little devils took one look and moved in with the hens ::) ::) They poop so much that the hens then had to be cleaned out far more frequently and their bedding was always wet. :&> :&> :&>
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I have 9 Indian Runners born June so could go any time, they are pretty tame, they come and eat out of your hand, not sure yet what sex they are yet. I am in Reston, near Eyemouth so not too far from you.
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I have 9 Indian Runners born June so could go any time, they are pretty tame, they come and eat out of your hand, not sure yet what sex they are yet. I am in Reston, near Eyemouth so not too far from you.
Will be in touch once we get the house sorted!
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I have 9 Indian Runners born June so could go any time, they are pretty tame, they come and eat out of your hand, not sure yet what sex they are yet. I am in Reston, near Eyemouth so not too far from you.
Will be in touch once we get the house sorted!
Great, not in a rush so quite happy to keep them till you are ready.
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Yep, it can be really simple as they never use it by day (or at least mine don't). Mine have always laid inside before I let them out in the morning but then they don't go back in until I make them! I have a normal shed for the geese and lower houses for the ducks but the goose shed is much easier to clean out (and better value for money - I have just bought a new bigger duck house and the only reason I got a specialist one was because I wanted the run to go with it too).
H