Construction is complete! The runner ducks have a new, permanent home here on our little homestead. It should be a safe, predator proof place for them to sleep, play and lay eggs.
Ducks need a little more wiggle room than chickens. Allow about 4-6 square feet per bird in their duck house and 10-25 square feet per bird for the run. In our case, the house is 4 square feet per bird and the run is 20 square feet per bird. I would go smaller only if you are planning to let them out to free range everyday.
The new duck coop attaches to our chicken coop. That is really for our own convenience – one place to store supplies. There is a nice, wide pathway for a wheelbarrow and a three foot planting bed next to the house. I’m planning to plant the beds with native ferns and evergreen huckleberry.
Some features of the duck coop include a side door into their duck house. That allows us to rake out the bedding easily and collect eggs. I made some super simple nesting boxes to slide in and out of there. There is a flat board along the bottom (covered with straw so you can’t see it) with two 12″ boards attached at a 90 degree angle. It should be enough to make the space feel private for laying.
We also splurged on way-too-expensive clear corrugated plastic roofing. I wanted the birds to have good daylight access, but also protection from predators trying to climb into the coop. I also wanted them to stay dry. The ducks love the water and the rain, but wet living conditions can lead to health issues.
Total cost for supplies was around $200 – half of which was for the roofing. We salvaged plywood and hardware, including screws, from the old chicken coop. We’re planning to paint the duck house portion hot pink again when the weather is drier. The girls digs gotta look good!
Here’s a little video of the girls moving in:
It took a couple weekends of hard work and lower back aches from crouching with my big pregnant belly. But the payoff is so worth it! We sat out there Christmas morning watching the ducks explore and enjoy their new digs and it felt like a gift to all of us.
It looks great! The work has paid off, and I am sure the ducks will be very happy.
Great looking duck coop! And you absolutely made the right decision by going with the clear corrugated plastic roofing. The girls will be so happy there!
I have to add that you look lovely, and my unasked-for advice to you is to rest and sleep as much as you can before your baby arrives. Sending good thoughts to you for an easy delivery and an easy baby! :):)
Thanks for the feedback ladies! Laura, I love unsolicited advice – so much so that I give it out freely as well 🙂 You will see from my posts this month that I’m not exactly taking it easy, but I am sleeping lots and enjoying nesting. Perhaps a little too much…
Metal roofings are the best since they last longer. ”
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do the duck lay eggs in the nest box area or all over your pen? mine roam my yard at the moment but i want them to lay in one spot and not a bizillion places in my yard…. i got them blocked into a smaller place in my yard so it wont be so hard to find but i want them to lay in a nest so i can get them every day from the same place….
thanks
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I like your chick digs, and wondered what you were using for bedding. Has your baby arrived? What was the make and model. I have 7 children 4 girls 3 boys all grown up and flown the coup.
Hi Leslie – sometimes we use straw for bedding and sometimes we use pine wood shavings. Both have their pros and cons. The baby is now two and her name is Juniper. Sounds like you know a thing or two about raising kiddos!