New to Duck Keeping

[Weedy Patch]

Hello, our first post so here goes.....

We are currently researching the possibilty of keeping ducks in our garden, we quite like the look of Indian Runners. We already keep chickens and have done so for a number of years.

We have a very large shed which is unused and of concrete type construction (pre-fab) that we are thinking of using to house the ducks at night (we would add straw bedding to the floor) and give them shelter if they need it during the day with the door left open. We would build and attach a walk-in run on the outside onto grass to make it fox proof. The idea being the ducks could wander in and outside as they wish, but within the safety of a walk-in run. There is one small window which we could alter to allow ventilation, the shed is very large, as big as a garage! Being concrete it should be cool in the summer.

Does this sound OK? Any advice given is greatly received, we really want to get this right.

 

[foxy]

Runners out of all the domestic duck breeds, are by far the most active, and also the most destructive! They are real foragers and do like plenty of space to roam, digging amongst the grass and creating mud and small bill sized holes to challenge the strongest of ankles!
The main issue would be that runner ducks are capable of decimating any green area very quickly unless they are free range -by dabbling, so possibly consider some form of drainage where you have sited their water supply.
Mine don't tend to return to their shed even in the worst conditions, preferring to shelter outside under trees or hedges, however with a big shed with an open door I imagine that wouldn't be a problem as long as their main space is outside not inside.

 

[Weedy Patch]

I should have said the main space would be outside and we would provide water and let them out into the garden too. We have a very large garden, I was just worried that the choice of housing was incorrect. We could buy a duck house if the shed isn't appropriate.

Thanks for the help

 

[dorsetduckowner]

Sounds perfect! I use a large shed for mine. As long as you keep it deep bedded so it isn't to hard on their legs and set up the window as ventilation with wire mesh across it, this will be a ducky night time palace. However it is unlikely they will use it during the day, no matter how cold or wet or hot it is!!! Lots of outdoor range will be fab for them.

 

[Weedy Patch]

Thank you Dorest Duck Owner, that's exactly how we'd planned to bed it out and convert the window. Great to hear it's a good idea. Now I just need to do more research on keeping ducks happy and then see how it goes

 

[dorsetduckowner]

Any questions just post them here. Lots of experienced ducky keepers on this forum