new duck pen - almost done but advice needed.

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kylee2katie

kylee2katie

Songster
9 Years
May 6, 2010
196
3
111
Stuttgart, Arkansas
I started out like this:
56653_duck_pen_2.jpg


Last week on Craiglist I found a 10 x10 kennel and concrete blocks very cheap - it was a 2 1/2 hour drive but worth it!! This is their new home! Once I get a top big enough to cover the whole thing I won't worry as much and they won't have to be locked in the dog houses any more!!

56653_img_1152.jpg


56653_img_1157.jpg


I am considering covering the top with hardware cloth then attaching the too small shade cloth over that. I am going after hardware cloth to go around the bottom to keep predators from grabbing my babies or my babies getting their heads stuck!! Maybe even tin?

Any suggestions on what I can plant around it? It sits under 2 large trees so there is plents of shade - a green thumb is something I do not have.....a friend suggested winter cabbage. Would they eat this?
 
Looks like a nice shady setup. I like the patio block floor. Keep looking on Craigslist for more kennel panels - I used those over the top of the dog run duck enclosures to reduce predators. What ever you put over the top remember you will need to be able to remove sticks and branches (learned this the hard way).

I wouldn't use tin around the bottom, it would reduce air flow and the ducks wouldn't be able to see out. Hardware cloth is perfect. I used chicken wire around the bottom but if I had a heavy predator load and many babies I would have invested in the hardware cloth.
 
They sell those silver tarps in the feed store for farmers to cover their hay bales. That may be an option when it comes to removing debris. Best is to go into the chain link fencing department and get parts to build it up in the center so the debris will simply slide off. PVC pipes may also work at a fraction of the cost of metal piping.

The floor may be easy to clean but I would be concerned about their feet. The sharp edges may cause bumble feet. They do sell a hand tool in the concrete isle that allows you to rub down the edges of those stone. Another option is to use rubber carpet runner mats, available at home depot in the carpet isle. They are softer then concrete, have grooves so the ducks cannot slip one them, and are easy to rinse off. The next option would be the feed store and get a stall mat for horses. They are quite large, heavy made (3/4 inch), insulating, and very easy to rinse off too. They will be good in winter too. I plan on buying 2 or 3 for my duck house to insulate the floor with them. My duck house also has concrete pavers, because the inground sprinkler pipes are below it. Already had to dig them up once. Right now I'm using the runner mats, but they will not insulate in winter. I could do the deep litter methods with the current setup, but prefer pine shavings which I sweep out every day.
 
Quote:
Thanks - I really like the idea of getting a couple more panels to put over the top - it would definately be more sturdy than hardware cloth. I appreciate your help!
 
Quote:
I like the idea of the horse stall mats - insulation would be a good idea!! It doesn't get real cold very often here but I'm not the one walking around bare foot!! I had not thought about the concrete hurting their feet. Thanks!
 
I'm new to ducks in the last 3 wks. I started with a 12 x 12' dog kennel but desided it needed to be bigger for the 8 babies.

I took the 12' long by 6' tall kennel section I had on the top of the chicken run that I had a tarp over for sun shade and to keep them dry. The problem with putting a tarp over the top of a level kennel section is water and snow collected and weighted it down to the point I that it was going to fall.

The duck pen is now 12' X 24'. I used a cattle panel on the back side with a white tarp ziptied. Looks like a green house. Very light and bright.

I'm debating tarping the rest or bird netting. I plan to run hot wire along the base to keep preditors out.
 
~*Sweet Cheeks*~ :

The problem with putting a tarp over the top of a level kennel section is water and snow collected and weighted it down to the point I that it was going to fall.

So true!, but I thought it would work for kylee2katie because I didn't think she was going to cover it with a tarp.

I did get around that water collection problem by taking gray plastic conduit, attaching it to one side, bending it over the top and attaching to the other side. I think I used four for a 12' run. Then I secured the tarps over the top like a hoop house. The chain link roof keeps out raccoons and other predators and the tarp covered hoop provides shade. As an added bonus most of the heat collects at the top of the hoops.​
 

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