Outdoor Duck Pen and Duck House!

[Lover duck duck]

Hello All,
I have purchased 10 female ducklings. (5) Khaki Campbell’s and (5) Pekins. I have their brooder all setup waiting for their arrival on April 18th but I am in the process of making an outdoor pen and I want to make it big enough for all 10 to give them enough room to roam. I was thinking 30’ x 30’ and 6’ high so I can just walk in there without having to bend. Do you think that is big enough? Or smaller 20 x 20? My husband thinks 20 x 20 should be fine but I wanted to ask the more experience people out there because I don’t want them cramped. Also I am going to be building their duck coop that will go inside the pen. How big should the coop be for 10 ducks?

 

[Eilsel]

I think if you can go bigger, go bigger! I don't know of anyone who has ever said they wish they had built smaller. I think this generally goes for any confided animal, the more space they have, the happier they are. Make sure you post pictures when you get your new babies! Ducklings are the CUTEST!

 

[PirateGirl]

Either dimension is enough square footage for the ducks, however, if you go bigger, there's a better chance vegetation will continue to grow in the enclosure. Also their swimming area and house will take up a big chunk of space. I'd give them approximately 4 square feet per duck in the duck house if they will ever be locked in there (like over night). If you do this you will have space to attempt to get them to use a few nest boxes in there too. (Ducks don't always like nest boxes). Not to complicate things, but you could fence the larger area and put a divider down the middle and rotate back and forth between runs to preserve vegetation.

 

[Lover duck duck]

I think if you can go bigger, go bigger! I don't know of anyone who has ever said they wish they had built smaller. I think this generally goes for any confided animal, the more space they have, the happier they are. Make sure you post pictures when you get your new babies! Ducklings are the CUTEST!

Yes I can go bigger. Your saying 30’ x 30’ is okay or should I go even bigger. I have plenty of acreage but just want to be able to see them when I look out the window. Thanks for your reply

 

[Lover duck duck]

Either dimension is enough square footage for the ducks, however, if you go bigger, there's a better chance vegetation will continue to grow in the enclosure. Also their swimming area and house will take up a big chunk of space. I'd give them approximately 4 square feet per duck in the duck house if they will ever be locked in there (like over night). If you do this you will have space to attempt to get them to use a few nest boxes in there too. (Ducks don't always like nest boxes). Not to complicate things, but you could fence the larger area and put a divider down the middle and rotate back and forth between runs to preserve vegetation.

Yes I am planning on locking them up every night even though I will be making the pen predator proof with two types of mesh. One is going to be 1/4” hardware cloth and the other will be 2 x 4 square welded wire. Got the idea from the Majestic Waterfowl Sanctuary. Thanks for your reply

 

[Eilsel]

Yes I can go bigger. Your saying 30’ x 30’ is okay or should I go even bigger. I have plenty of acreage but just want to be able to see them when I look out the window. Thanks for your reply

I mean of your two options I would go with the bigger one, which will definitely be more than adequate.

 

[Lover duck duck]

I mean of your two options I would go with the bigger one, which will definitely be more than adequate.

Ok thanks. I will post pictures when they get delivered next week.

 

[blayt90]

Also if you don't mind post pictures of your coop/run.

 

[Lover duck duck]

Also if you don't mind post pictures of your coop/run.

I sure will. Starting on that this coming weekend.

 

[Lover duck duck]

I think if you can go bigger, go bigger! I don't know of anyone who has ever said they wish they had built smaller. I think this generally goes for any confided animal, the more space they have, the happier they are. Make sure you post pictures when you get your new babies! Ducklings are the CUTEST!

Just received my new baby girls. (5) Pekins and (5) Khakis

I think if you can go bigger, go bigger! I don't know of anyone who has ever said they wish they had built smaller. I think this generally goes for any confided animal, the more space they have, the happier they are. Make sure you post pictures when you get your new babies! Ducklings are the CUTEST!