*NEED TO BUILD AN IMPENETRABLE DUCK FORTRESS!

[llombardo]

WOW that is so beautiful!!! How much do you think supplies to make one like that would run me? I'm just a vocal teacher and I know little about cost of wood and such haha. I bet if I showed my dad that though he could replicate it if I got the supplies (he's the handy man). this may sound like a silly question but what is "hardware cloth" because I'm envisioning a sturdy towel

I got lucky, most of the wood was found in the garbage(I work in be garbage industry) I paid under $100 for everything we couldn't find.

Hardware cloth is the same concept as chicken wire--just stronger and recommended for coops, aprons, etc

 

[shawluvsbirds]

Here ya go.
For your predator apron you can use pretty much any type of wire fencing you want to. We used the extra pieces of hardware cloth we had, so Ours is not 24 inches out. Probably just 12
Anyway hardware cloth is the small square wire. . it comes in different gauges and sizes. I think the standard is 1/2 inch that's what you want. If you ever have a weasel I hear they can enter through a 1 inch hole.

 

[ColleenRyan]

I got lucky, most of the wood was found in the garbage(I work in be garbage industry) I paid under $100 for everything we couldn't find.

Hardware cloth is the same concept as chicken wire--just stronger and recommended for coops, aprons, etc

i have some time before they'll move outside so maybe i can just start looking at the curb and seeing if i can spot anything i can use for the pieces! thanks for all the info!!

 

[JDN]

I'm so new to this I'm sorry if these are silly questions but what is "hot wire" and what is "welded wire" and what do you mean by apron (so sorry for all the silly questions!!!) I've heard the term apron used a lot i thought it might be an extra later of fencing around the cage in addition to the cage. And I'd lay the apron flat on the ground around (1 ft) and under the cage as well? thanks so much for helping me out I'm trying to learn as much as i can!

Hot wire=Electric fence. You can buy one for probably $45 inlcluding the wire if you shop around.

Welded wire is a type of fencing. Why chicken wire is hexagonal and woven, wire that is welded into a grid pattern is generally regarded as stronger. By Apron, I simply mean lay it flat outside the coop attached to the fence bottom. Put in sod staples (you can make them by clipping wire hangers or buy them at home depot.

 

[sirrobyn0]

i have some time before they'll move outside so maybe i can just start looking at the curb and seeing if i can spot anything i can use for the pieces! thanks for all the info!!

Another thing, I'm sorry I don't remember if you need to build the house portion too, but cull lumber, from the box stores like home depot and Lowes can be had for 60 - 70% off. There is a reason they call it cull lumber it is either cut, warp or otherwise not quite right. I wouldn't use it to build a house with, but I've used a lot of it with the chicken coop and duck pen.

 

[sirrobyn0]

Hot wire=Electric fence. You can buy one for probably $45 inlcluding the wire if you shop around.

You probably can find electric fence controller / energizer and wire for $45, but I'd encourage you to get a better unit than want you'll get in that. At the very least go down to your local feed store or where ever you buy your fence supplies at and look at the differant controllers. They are usually rated in distance as in distance they will push the power. Some manufactures will give thier output in joules as well, and some will indicate what animals they are suited for. Example. I have two electric fence controllers, one is around my duck enclosure. That one is old, old, old. We got it used in the early 80's. You don't want to touch the wire it will give you one heck of a zap. My other controller was one of those discount units I think it was something on the order of $40 new, it's not rated for livestock. It produces more of a sharp tingle if you touch it. Also the old one will be able to over come, things like a few weeds growing up and touching it and it still will function where as the newer one will just short out and stop producing a shock. What I'm saying is at least consider getting a better unit if you want it to stop larger predators.

 

[ColleenRyan]

You probably can find electric fence controller / energizer and wire for $45, but I'd encourage you to get a better unit than want you'll get in that. At the very least go down to your local feed store or where ever you buy your fence supplies at and look at the differant controllers. They are usually rated in distance as in distance they will push the power. Some manufactures will give thier output in joules as well, and some will indicate what animals they are suited for. Example. I have two electric fence controllers, one is around my duck enclosure. That one is old, old, old. We got it used in the early 80's. You don't want to touch the wire it will give you one heck of a zap. My other controller was one of those discount units I think it was something on the order of $40 new, it's not rated for livestock. It produces more of a sharp tingle if you touch it. Also the old one will be able to over come, things like a few weeds growing up and touching it and it still will function where as the newer one will just short out and stop producing a shock. What I'm saying is at least consider getting a better unit if you want it to stop larger predators.

Thanks so much for the info. I’m looking to stop any and ALL predators so I don’t mind splurging on the electric fencing. From my understanding it’s a wire you install around the top and bottom of the outdoor run? I just want to make sure the ducks can’t get to it to shock themselves or my doggies. I live in a suburban area in NJ but there are most definitely predators from owls and hawks to foxes and raccoons, I’ve even heard people talking about coyotes and bobcats. I have someone offering a pick of some big dog houses she has and if he enclosure is big enough maybe I’ll put one in there for them to go in during the day if they want a nap but I would ideally love to make a nice big enclosure for them myself that has some insulation and windows (reinforced with wire) for a breeze during hotter months. Nothing special really just a safe space that’ll comfortable fit 6 plus have room for water and feed.

 

[sirrobyn0]

Thanks so much for the info. I’m looking to stop any and ALL predators so I don’t mind splurging on the electric fencing. From my understanding it’s a wire you install around the top and bottom of the outdoor run? I just want to make sure the ducks can’t get to it to shock themselves or my doggies. I live in a suburban area in NJ but there are most definitely predators from owls and hawks to foxes and raccoons, I’ve even heard people talking about coyotes and bobcats. I have someone offering a pick of some big dog houses she has and if he enclosure is big enough maybe I’ll put one in there for them to go in during the day if they want a nap but I would ideally love to make a nice big enclosure for them myself that has some insulation and windows (reinforced with wire) for a breeze during hotter months. Nothing special really just a safe space that’ll comfortable fit 6 plus have room for water and feed.

So the way I have mine setup there is one wire at the top of my fence, which is only 5 feet tall. and one near the ground, maybe 6 inches from the ground. The trick with the lower wire is to keep it low enough to make it hard for predators to want to go under it and high enough that weeds or grass don't interfer with the wire to much, as they can short out the wire. If your going with a taller fence such as chainlink which would likely be 8 feet tall the wire does not need to be at the top. The main reason for the upper wire is to keep predators from being able to climb up on the top of it. So you could do the higest wire at 4 or 5 feet or whatever you think would be best.

You'd run the wires on the outside of the enclosure and you'll need electric fence insulators and two gate handles which you'll install so you can open the fence gate. so the only thing that will be hot is the two wires. Your ducks won't be able to touch it on the outside. If you plan to let you ducks out to free range simply shut the controller off while they are out so they don't get shocked. Your dogs are another matter. It's pretty likely that they will touch the wire at some point, mine certainly have. And guess what. A couple times and they keep thier distance from the duck fence now.

 

[shawluvsbirds]

Thanks so much for the info. I’m looking to stop any and ALL predators so I don’t mind splurging on the electric fencing. From my understanding it’s a wire you install around the top and bottom of the outdoor run? I just want to make sure the ducks can’t get to it to shock themselves or my doggies. I live in a suburban area in NJ but there are most definitely predators from owls and hawks to foxes and raccoons, I’ve even heard people talking about coyotes and bobcats. I have someone offering a pick of some big dog houses she has and if he enclosure is big enough maybe I’ll put one in there for them to go in during the day if they want a nap but I would ideally love to make a nice big enclosure for them myself that has some insulation and windows (reinforced with wire) for a breeze during hotter months. Nothing special really just a safe space that’ll comfortable fit 6 plus have room for water and feed.

Keep in mind that ducks will need a lot of ventilation. . I've been told they need even more ventilation than chickens. They can handle very cold temperatures. .ventilate up high where they aren't in a draft of course But with ducks being wet a lot you don't want humidity building up in their house.

 

[Pugsabi]

i have some time before they'll move outside so maybe i can just start looking at the curb and seeing if i can spot anything i can use for the pieces! thanks for all the info!!

Check your local Craigslist for pallets/wood/bricks etc sometimes you can get things for cheap or even free! We have a lot of people giving away free bricks in my area that we were about to pay $1 each for, in order to raise our chicken coop a bit higher.