AUSTRALIAN POULTRY FORUM™

Advice sort
I have measure out a new duck run for 2 pairs of Indian Runners now the measurements are 6m long x 3m wide x 1.5m high my question is what size pond in length and depth should I build for this size run and for 2 pairs of ducks and allowing for ducklings? I want to keep a further 2 ducklings when they eventually breed

Thanks in advance

Dennis

You probably wont like my answer!

Size of the pen wise I think should be fine for two adult ducks, they won't take long to turn it to mush I'm sure. When you add ducklings to the mix it will become a little more crowded. Even if you hatched half a dozen ducklings in eight weeks they'll be almost full size and it will be like having eight ducks in the pen.

I find two ducks can fit comfortably in a half clam shell which is what I use for my ducks. With them both splashing while they bathe they can keep out of each others way sufficiently well. As soon as three get in its definitedly more crowded. Have you taken into account how you're going to clean the pond? If you could build in a drainage system coming out the bottom of the pond to empty the dirty water out this would be of great assistance to you. (There's heaps of idea on the web). One thing I do know within a day (often less) of having sparkling clean water, two adults will have it brown with poo and mooshed up dirt! The longer it stays dirty the more chance of them becoming sick from drinking it which they will do with gusto.

It sounds like you intend on keeping the drakes with your females even when they are sitting on eggs and also when there's ducklings. Can I say this is potentially a recipe for disaster.

Another thing which concerns me is the fact one duck is not enough for a drake. They need at least three to spread their attention. When your duck (or ducks) go broody you really don't want the drake in with them or he'll continue to harrass them potentially breaking eggs and damaging or killing babies. I have an indian runner drake currently on the opposite side of a fence to a duck and babies and today one slipped through a hole I thought was too small and he picked it up and shook it. Thank goodness I was there to yell out and he dropped it. Some drakes will kill a duckling given the chance, they certainly don't recognise them as their own and have loving feelings toward them.

Maybe you could have an extra run to hold the males when you have broody ducks and ducklings. (I've never had two drakes before so I'm not sure how they would get along when segregated together though).

I'll be interested to see what others thoughts are. Good luck with your venture

Thank you for so much detail it has enlightened me no end. I have plenty of room so I can make the run bigger. If I was to extend the run to say 10m long x 6m wide would that be ok? Bear in mind I would take your advice and have 2 females to the one male so that would mean 6 in total. I can make a small run next to the large with a door between so I can heard the males into that when the females sit but how big would that need to be? I had no idea that ducks had the aggressive streak for ducklings. I was thinking for the pond to use a commercial pond but didn't consider the cleaning side of things but then it wouldn't be too hard to add a drain with a plug. The pond I looked at was 2.1m long x 1m wide and 900mm deep. Sorry so many questions and a lot more to come as you can read I am all new to this and would like to get it right the first time. Thank you for taking the time to answer and what a detailed and helpful answer it is.

What about contemplating using the extra space to make four pens instead of two? You could have your two ducks broody and raising ducklings in one each. You don't want to keep two females with babies together for the same reason as the drakes - they can often try to kill another ducks babies. You could have the males separated together in another pen and the fourth could be for growing out the babies at some point. You are going to be over run with ducks if you have two broodies hatching at the same time and I guess it depends on how long you're going to keep the ducklings for as to how much room you're going to eventually need.

I presume each run will have a 'house' for them to get out of the weather (if they are that way inclined) and for nesting etc. Definitely make sure you can get outside access to the houses because potentially your runs will be muddy and if its awkward to get into the houses to collect eggs or clean you won't get much pleasure out of keeping them.

No worries about the questions - but keep in mind just because you get an answer it doesn't make it right!

Hoooowheee you're going to be doing lots of water changes and going through a ton of feed!

You can buy full size commercial manufactured ponds that have drains built in. You can plum it in a small drum and recycle the water on the garden

Cheers merlin I am off tomorrow to look at a few different ponds and yes some have drains

Thanks again Roova your help and advice is fantastic. Yes I am including a duck house 1/3 the size of the run, will that be big enough? Do you use chook nest boxes?

I used a 3x3 garden shed then built the run off the front. Then shed was a second but still new for $200 and the front run cost $180 so all up $380 super cheap and look brilliant and the Campbell’s love there home

I think a house that size would be more than big enough. Hopefully you can stand up in there
Regarding the nestboxes, I have a few different ones available and all the ducks definitely prefer dark and cosy. Their favorite is actually a fruit box on its side and I've covered one half of the box over. There's straw inside and they love the fact its almost dark in there. You could probably try a few different ones and your girls will tell you what they prefer.

Have you found the ducks you want yet? Don't forget we love photos!!

I haven't decided on a breed as yet but narrowed the field to Indian runner, welsh harlequin, khaki campbell or elizabeth. I will start a new topic seeking everyone’s thought on my short list once I have sorted the run. I will defiantly post lots of pictures of the run and ducks I love photos also I think a visual reference is the best reference