Duck Pen

[nate379]

I have 8 ducks I'm raising for food and or eggs.

They are living in a big dog crate in my garage right now, but they are about a month old and the crate is getting small fast.

I need to build an outside pen for them, but I'm really not too sure how to go about building one.

How much room do 8 ducks need? I was thinking of more or less a box, maybe 6ftx6ft, couple 2x4s, few sheets of OSB. I don't think a chicken wire cage would be best cause it doesn't get all that warm here, 40s-50s at night, might touch 70s on a really nice day but not common.
Thinking to put an electric heater in there, keep it at 65-70*

Ideas?

I have been searching on google, but haven't found much info.

 

[My Oslo heats my home]

Do ducks need heaters? 6x6 seems like a good size for 8, pallets maybe?

 

[Mrs. Krabappel]

http://www.backyardchickens.com/f/42/ducks

Definitely time to move them. Supplement heat probably for another month or so until they have all of their contour feathers.

 

[nate379]

I did some more reading and seems like 5-6 sqft per bird is about right. That would mean a 8x8 would be sized better.
I think I'll do 4-5ft walls so I can walk in there to clean it, build it like a house other than not so sturdy of course. Probably just do 24 OC studs, and some 7/16" OSB with a coat or two of paint to keep it from falling apart.

I'll put a small kiddie pool or rubermaid bin cut down so it's 4-5" deep in there for them to drink and swim.

Thinking maybe to leave the roof off when the weather is nice and once it gets cold this fall I'll throw a few sheets of OSB on and just staple some tar paper down.

I might try to keep them through the winter, so maybe I'll put some foam insulation. Will have to see how they pan out through the summer.

I had wanted to free range them, but with all the prey that live around here, I think it will be best to leave them fenced in instead. Plus even right now they are quick and hard to catch!

 

[SmokeyTheBear]

Space requirements are based upon the size of the mature birds and the manner they are being kept. A lot of folks under size and have to correct. You don't really want to know what happens when you under size things but this can be very gruesome.

 

[nate379]

Sure, just don't want to spend too much money on these things. Right now it's more of an experiment than anything. Some of the duck houses I found on the web... I'm surprised they didn't have a 48" LCD TV in them too.

 

[SmokeyTheBear]

My girls want a full blown movie theater along with a pop corn machine and disco ball, something about inviting the local rooster over.

 

[Eatonpcat]

My girls want a full blown movie theater along with a pop corn machine and disco ball, something about inviting the local rooster over.

Now that's funny!