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Post by Skandi on Apr 7, 2017 14:44:13 GMT
Right I'm trying to think of ideas for housing my ducks. I've come up som ideas, either permanent;
buying a shed or an outdoor sleeping shelter and repurposing it or building one from scratch from wood or lecia blocks.
Or building a summer only one, and bring them into the barn in the winter. either a wooden tent with no bottom that can be easily moved when it gets dirty inside, or a strawbale hut with a metal roof.
Can anyone think of any other ideas, it needs to house 3 ducks over winter, (if it's an all year round one) and up to 35 just before slaughter of the ducklings. My problem is cost, buying or building out of wood or lecia will cost around $700-800 so I'm looking for more "out there" ideas, my best one so far is a square of strawbales two high with a metal plate roof that can be lifted off for cleaning, it would be either straight onto the ground or possibly on a concrete base, not sure which would be better. That would only be used for summer usage, and would probably need rebuilding each year (hopefully not the roof) but would come in at around $30 without a base.
Security would be an issue, with the temporary coops our chickens have been safe behind a fence even without their coop door closed so I hope that the much larger ducks would also be fine.
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Post by Maura on Apr 7, 2017 21:30:58 GMT
For three ducks, just use a dog house. Igloos seems to be best. Sized for a 'large' dog, the ducks can get in and out of it, it would be snow proof and rain proof, and small enough they can get cozy. Just put straw in and they will be comfy. You can probably get one used. When you need shelter for the 35, a simple lean to made out of old pallets or a tarp will be just fine. Straw on the floor. The 35 will need shelter from strong winds and shade.
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Post by comfortablynumb on Apr 8, 2017 0:32:58 GMT
An old truck cap makes a fine ducky house. If it gets buried in the the snow as long as they have a way in, its even better. If you put them up on a couple tiers of concrete blocks, you can get in there yourself, if you stoop over. Or, use pallets for the walls and cover them with plywood, and set the cap on top.
I find them more handy OFF the truck.
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Post by Maura on Apr 8, 2017 15:33:41 GMT
Instead of putting the 35 duck shelter on concrete, just keep it covered with straw. Add straw as needed as they trample it down. It will all break down and fertilize the ground. The following year, move the shelter over and again lay down straw. You can move the shelter back and forth over the same ground until. you are ready to turn one of the areas into a garden.
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Post by oma2three on Apr 9, 2017 0:50:44 GMT
Three chickens less in one week . Hubby had to kill one since it's breast was huge.To me it looked like a great big ball.Tumor ?,can't think of what else it would have been.Hubby did not cut it open.Then yesterday one looked like she just fell over and died. They are in a safe secure chicken house.No clue what happened . Then tonight when I gave them weeds I had pulled ,one of them was standing by itself ,head down and dripping out of her behind. Looks like she was staining.I did not want her to suffer so hubby put her out of her misery.She had a real poopy behind.Does any body have an idea what could have caused any of it ? Would be grateful for any ideas or help.I do have to say we only keep our chickens for eggs, we don't eat them. I know I know!Only have 10 left and one rooster.
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