4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[Uptang Lee]

Hey folks im just after some best tips on keeping ducks. I have an area of my garden where im sticking the pen. The area is 12ft by 6ft, It could be extended by another 6ft.

 

Im off to B&Q tomorrow to see what they have to build a pen (hoping they have everything i need haha). Ive already got a design im wanting . Then im just looking to go to a pet shop and by like a rabbit hutch and modify it to suit the ducks.

 

Ive also seen tescos have a paddling pool for 6quid!! in that other topic on here. so ill be having that outside the pen or depends inside

 

Thoughts and ideas welcome

[Lesley]

Firstly, have you got a good book? - I have the Katie Thear one.....Starting with Ducks I think it is.

 

I would give them as much run area as you can, ducks are very messy and poop everywhere.

 

The pond will need emptying every day so if you can dig a large hole where you want to keep the pond shell and fill it (the hole) with gravel then it will act as a sump and let the water drain easily.

 

Ducks need shallow feeders - wide based dog bowls are good.....they scoop their feed up. They can eat pellets suitable for hens....don't feed mash as it can clog their nostrils.They will also need water for dunking their heads and it is better if that isn't their pond. We use a galvanised drinker which has a guard over it to stop the ducks from trying to swim in it.

 

We have raised our duck house off the ground to stop rats burrowing under it - we have a shallow ramp made from wood, for them to get up into the house. Use straw (not hay) for their bedding.

[Uptang Lee]

Firstly, have you got a good book? - I have the Katie Thear one.....Starting with Ducks I think it is.

 

I would give them as much run area as you can, ducks are very messy and poop everywhere.

 

The pond will need emptying every day so if you can dig a large hole where you want to keep the pond shell and fill it (the hole) with gravel then it will act as a sump and let the water drain easily.

 

Ducks need shallow feeders - wide based dog bowls are good.....they scoop their feed up. They can eat pellets suitable for hens....don't feed mash as it can clog their nostrils.They will also need water for dunking their heads and it is better if that isn't their pond. We use a galvanized drinker which has a guard over it to stop the ducks from trying to swim in it.

 

We have raised our duck house off the ground to stop rats burrowing under it - we have a shallow ramp made from wood, for them to get up into the house. Use straw (not hay) for their bedding.

 

I don't plan on keeping them in the pen at all times, Ill be giving them the free roam of the garden(Once their wings have been clipped). But i think a fair sized pen would be ideal for like times when im out etc..?

 

I think the pool idea is great!! with the feeder/water drinkers i have them sorted now. ive just ordered some stuff from ebay!! and yer i was planning on keeping the hut off the ground so the grass wont die etc..

 

Great tips! Also ill keep my eye out for that book you said

[Lesley]

You should be able to get the book quite cheaply from Amazon Marketplace or other online second hand book shops.

[Uptang Lee]

Ive seen one on ebay for 99p!

[Lesley]

Go for it!!!!

[Uptang Lee]

Ive just seen it takes 12weeks before ducklings can leave there mothers! I dont wana wait that long I might see if anyone in the brum area has any ready now!

[Guest]

Hi

 

You can get ducklings at a few days old now and they dont have to be with their mums(keep warm though the bigger the better) but if you can find some ie a few more weeks ie 4 weeks upwards that will be better. Not sure how far you are but I got my first ducks at 6 weeks old from the Domestic Wildfowl Trust in Stratford Avon ring before going....but you should be able to find some more locally

 

So you dont have to wait that long however you will need to keep an eye on them and really make sure they are safe..they can eat normal chicken PELLETs from a few days old

 

What are you going to get??Khaki campbells are a good beginners bird and hardy or look on the omlet breees for sale there are ducks on there advertised

 

At least it will give you time to prepare! I know pets at home etc(usually expensive) do plastic dog kennels but they dont have a door so you need to make sure they are secure at night etc..they are not that expensive..just thinking of hosing it out for cleaning.

 

Try ebay for an ark etc??

 

Good luck

[Lesley]

or....try Ebay for an Eglu?

[Uptang Lee]

Hi

 

You can get ducklings at a few days old now and they dont have to be with their mums(keep warm though the bigger the better) but if you can find some ie a few more weeks ie 4 weeks upwards that will be better. Not sure how far you are but I got my first ducks at 6 weeks old from the Domestic Wildfowl Trust in Stratford Avon ring before going....but you should be able to find some more locally

 

So you dont have to wait that long however you will need to keep an eye on them and really make sure they are safe..they can eat normal chicken PELLETs from a few days old

 

What are you going to get??Khaki campbells are a good beginners bird and hardy or look on the omlet breees for sale there are ducks on there advertised

 

At least it will give you time to prepare! I know pets at home etc(usually expensive) do plastic dog kennels but they dont have a door so you need to make sure they are secure at night etc..they are not that expensive..just thinking of hosing it out for cleaning.

 

Try ebay for an ark etc??

 

Good luck

 

Oh i must of misread about how old they are before they can leave lol, Im in erdington in brum. But im having a look around for some ducks closer to home and i think Khaki Campbells look brilliant ducks to have! Im going to speak to my neighbor about the ducks later!

 

And i didnt think of ebay for buying huts, Ill have a look now.

 

Thanks guys!

[Guest]

If you can get an eglu to put on the ground(or on a layer of bricks) it would be easy to hose out etc

 

I had a wooden house forsham duck house(posh kennel basically) and the floor rotted despite my linoleum efforts to stop it rotting. Ducks are messy and I still use to hose out the duck house and the wood would stay really wet.

 

At least a plastic house you can dry it off quicker. an eglu I can imagine would hold 2 or at a push 3 ducks depending on the breed..but yes try ebay it may be better economy in the long run to get an eglu??

 

I have chickens now in a and I know it will last years.

 

Let us know what you decide but good luck indie

[Uptang Lee]

Well im going to keep my eye out for an plastic hutch etc... as you said would be easy to clean and what not. Just looked on ebay for an Eglu and there quite expensive to buy, And the ones that are cheap are to far for me to travel to to collect.

[Guest]

Try pets at home for the kennel type but the only thing it will need is a door it is a moulded plastic all in one(not sure about ventilation you may need to drill some vent in too??

 

Or go for wood even ebay sells some cheap arks..make one?? it could be square etc

 

good luck the eglus etc do hold their prices well

 

indie

[Uptang Lee]

Hey guys just a wee update, I have been offered some call ducks and ive taken the person up on the offer. So its time to get building my pen!

[Lesley]

Good news!! - don't forget to take photos for us!

[Uptang Lee]

I wont

[Redwing]

Try Ebay for a plastic dog kennel, I got one for £16

[Uptang Lee]

Im getting a custom built duck hut and its being built to what i want i got dishes and what not now just need to get food & straw. But ive been advised to get a big bag from a farm or something. Its gana be abit hard living in a city Lmao!

[Lesley]

-Believe me, it's hard enough in the country sometimes!, especially if you just want a couple of bales.

[Guest]

Im getting a custom built duck hut and its being built to what i want i got dishes and what not now just need to get food & straw. But ive been advised to get a big bag from a farm or something. Its gana be abit hard living in a city Lmao!

 

 

Hi

 

Glad its all getting there now..

 

Tip re the straw if you can get a bale of horse sawdust/dust extracted shavings easier to dispose of than straw and easier to clean than straw(good for composting & rots down a lot quicker)

 

If you buy straw try a farmer some equestrian shops do sell as well? For a normal bale of straw I pay £2.50 which is cheap but you will probably pay £3.50 ish upwards. Pet shops will really sting you.

The horse bedding will work out more a bale but so easy to use. I used straw but soon switched to horse bedding. Horse bedding is usually more aborbant.

Let us know how you get on

 

Good luck indie

[Uptang Lee]

So you can use sawdust? I know theres a sawmill in brum where you can go collect how much as you like. But that was a few years back, they might start charging now or something. Im going to check it out

[Guest]

So you can use sawdust? I know theres a sawmill in brum where you can go collect how much as you like. But that was a few years back, they might start charging now or something. Im going to check it out

 

 

Yes some sawmills round here do provide sawdust for horse folk but it is dusty and due to it being so fine it isnt so absorbant ..however a lot of the times it is free which is a saving. So just judge it really...I have found the fine bits fall to the bottom of the bag, so you could throw that away. If you can get it free thats a bonus. In the winter or if its pouring you can deep litter the ducks but it is harder to clean out that way..it gets quite compacted.

I know my friends that get it locally for free get huge bag loads!

 

Also I found with sawdust type bedding the eggs kept cleaner too than straw...perhaps others may disagree with me and prefer straw. You can buy normal dust extracted sawdust in horse places but shop around (it is cheaper than Hemcore and Aubiose type beddings etc).

 

Good luck indie

[Uptang Lee]

Just a wee update, Ive finally got a pond. Tbh i went out and brought a pre-formed pond! so thats all installed etc.. now . Ive been given a number for a local farm which sells Straw and Feed so going to give them a call tomorrow.

 

Ive also brought a drinker and feeder from ebay .

 

So in a way im ready! Just waiting for the hutch and the ducklings

 

Not long now Yay

[Guest]

Glad to hear you are managing to gather, its worth shopping around as prices can be expensive in some places.

 

At least you have some ducks lined up too

 

good luck not long to go now indie

[Uptang Lee]

My local pet shop is wanting for duck feed & mixed corned is 12.99 each bag!!. If i go 5mins down the road ive been quoted 9.99 so its cheaper then 12.99. Just got to ring the farm now see how much they charge

 

Edit: Just rang the local farm layer pellets £7.00, mixed corn £5.80 and a bale for £2.20.

 

If anyone wants details pm me. The farm is in wallsal/aldridge area.