Ducks differ in their needs from backyard chickens, and it can be straightforward to create a DIY duck house with some readily available, basic materials. When starting your flock, making your own duck house instead of purchasing an overpriced product from a retail store, can save you time and money.
如果你想在你现在的鸟群中增加水禽,它们将需要足够的生活空间来保护它们免受捕食者和极端天气条件的伤害。然而,如果你现有的谷仓或鸡舍对鸭子来说不是理想的,而且很难修改,那么很容易找到简单的DIY鸭舍计划,并立即开始。
Important Details to Consider When Building a Duck House
Before you rush out and select a duck house DIY plan, you should consider some important details. With careful planning, you will end up creating a structure to suit your birds and fit into your outdoor living space.
As mentioned, ducks will have different needs than chickens, so using a DIY duck house can be the best solution to ensure all of your birds are healthy, happy, and protected.
Duck House Height and Size
Ducks do not roost like chickens do when they retire for the evening. Instead, they are content lying on the floor in warm, dry bedding. Because of this behavior, you do not have to create a tall DIY duck house containing various levels.
How large their entrance door is will depend on the type of duck you own. The door should be wide enough for two ducks to fit through at once since they often will not wait their turn and like to push and shove.
These birds can be quite clumsy since their bodies are heavy, and their webbed feet are often wet and slippery. Therefore, the structure should not be far off the ground, making it easy to go in and out. If there is a height difference between the ground and the opening, you will want to include a wide ramp.
Domestic waterfowl require at least 4 square feet of space per bird to ensure they are comfortable even at a mature size. Before you begin constructing their new home, you must determine the number of ducks you want to shelter. If the duck house does not have enough space for the number of birds you own, problems can occur.
Types of Materials to Use
For a simple DIY duck house, you can use various materials, including plywood, two-by-four lumber, vinyl flooring, and welded wire.
You will want a sturdy wood or cement floor to keep any predators from getting into the duck house and using your pets as their next meal.
Since ducks are messy eaters and drinkers, there will be water and wet feet everywhere. Installing an inexpensive, vinyl flooring material will keep the wood from rotting due to excessive moisture. You can also use flooring tiles (or a tarp that will lie over the bottom) which you can remove for easy cleaning later.
在离地面大约一英尺的墙上安装黏黏的乙烯基瓷砖有助于清洁,因为这些水鸟是出了名的到处泼水、泼泥。
使用牵引带或垫子可以很好地增加它们的入口坡道,以确保你的鸭子在上下移动时有安全的落脚点。同样,鸭脚可以是湿的或泥泞的,你不希望它们在进入鸭舍时滑下坡道。
Duck House Type and Purpose
When choosing the best DIY duck house, deciding on the type and purpose should be your first step. Many of these structures will vary in size and where they will fit in your yard. There are several types of duck houses you will find.
- Completely predator-proof styles to lock up your ducks at night
- Protective homes enclosed inside a predator-proof pen
- Floating duck houses for ponds or lakes
- Plans that reuse old building materials
- Houses that add onto existing runs or enclosed yards
- Portable duck houses to move around your yard
Other Considerations
When finding your duck house DIY plan, ventilation is a critical factor for waterfowl. Ducks can get wet, track in water and mud, and even their breath is moist. Proper ventilation will ensure that the environment will remain dry and comfortable.
一些宠物主人会在晚上把鸭子的食物和水盘子移走。无论如何,在这个时期他们不需要它,如果有的话,他们很可能会搞得一团糟。确保鸡舍能方便地进入鸡舍内部,随时可以取走盘子,进行适当的清洁。
Ducks do not need nesting boxes as chickens do, so many duck house DIY plans will not include it. If you prefer to supply them with an area in the house for a nest, ensure there is still enough space for all your feathered friends.
Related Post:10 Considerations for Your Backyard Duck Coop
Free Duck House Plans to Consider
Let’s look at 19 of the best DIY duck house ideas we found.
4-by-4 Standard Duck House From My Outdoor Plans
This standard DIY duck house plan will not take long to complete. It is a nice size to house several ducks but is not too large for anyone with a smaller space.
DIY 6-by-8 Duck Hotel
This hotel plan is a unique choice for duck owners looking for a personality for their DIY wood duck house. This structure has ample space for several birds and can be easily modified from a chicken coop to a duck house by removing the roosting bars and the additional nesting boxes.
3-by-4 A-Frame Duck House
This A-frame structure is simple to construct and will give your ducks ample space to curl up for the night. In addition, the compact design makes it easy to customize your ducks’ home with wood or asphalt shingles, exterior paint colors, and personal touches, like shutters.
4-Foot Cable Spool Duck House
这些DIY鸭屋计划使用4英尺高的木制卷轴。通过把这个房子放在一个防捕食者的围栏和鸭子跑,你将不必担心增加一个门来保护你的鸭子的安全。
2-by-6 Portable Quaker Box Duck House
This 2- by 6-foot Quaker box duck house has wheels and a handle to quickly relocate your ducks to another section of the yard. Move it daily to cut down on cleanup and keep your insects and pests at bay.
Upcycled DIY Duck House Plan
If you have spare building materials around your shop or yard, your structure can be as large or small as you wish, depending on the materials. Keep waste out of the landfill and reuse old building materials to create a perfect home for your waterfowl.
Pallet Duck House and Run
With some pallet wood and a few extra supplies, including some roofing material, predator-proof welded wire, and latches, you can have a complete house and run finished in just an afternoon.
Spacious Duck House and Pen
The setup gives several ducks 4 square feet of space each, along with room to roam outside. The roofing material will keep their house dry and warm, as well as protect them from predators.
4-by-4 Square DIY Wooden Duck House
These plans are simple to follow and will have your ducks in new living quarters in only one day. This 4- by 4-foot structure will house up to 16 ducks without problems. Choosing DIY duck house plans larger than you need will allow your flock to grow in the future.
Recycled Wooden Packing Crate Duck House
Packing crates are sturdy, and you can modify them easily to add charm and personality with only a few additional materials. Remember to add ventilation holes and waterproof roofing material to ensure the new home will last for years.
DIY Wood Pallet Duck House
You can purchase pallets from companies, but many businesses will give them away to anyone willing to take them. With some imagination, you can turn leftover pallets into a terrific duck house that will provide shelter from the elements and predators.
Rustic Duck House
如果你想在现有的鸡群中添加鸭子,这个乡村鸭屋是完美的解决方案。利用废弃的木材和剩余的建筑材料,你可以为你的水禽建造一个合适2022世界杯四强亚盘赔率的栖息地,同时仍然让它们的湿食远离你的鸡。
Simple 4-by-4 Cottage Duck House
These DIY plans make constructing your next duck house easy. It contains a removable floor layer for easy cleaning and a food cupboard to help secure it from predators.
Floating DIY Duck House
If you want to spoil your pet ducks and have a large body of water they can access, this floating duck house is perfect. The plans do not require complex supplies or tools and add charm to any garden pond or duck pool.
Convert a Chicken Coop Into a Duck House
If you have a small chicken coop that you do not use anymore, you can easily convert it for ducks. All you need to do is widen the door opening, install a small ramp, add extra ventilation, and remove any roosting bars or nesting boxes.
Tiny Waterfront Pallet Oasis
If your ducks are lucky enough to have a pond, this tiny waterfront pallet oasis is ideal. You can create it in no time and have your birds resting comfortably after a day of swimming.
Convert an Old Dog House for Your Ducks
An old dog house can be the perfect house to protect your ducks from predators. Add some ventilation for proper airflow and ensure that it sits within a predator-proof enclosure, and you and your birds will be happy.
Simple Barnyard Duck House
任何会使用手工工具的人都可以为他们的鸟儿建造这个简单的谷仓鸭屋。增加的触摸包括防滑垫和一个小泳池,在保护自己免受捕食者伤害的同时,溅起水花。
Accessible Slanted Roof Duck House
This DIY duck house uses a slanted roof to ensure water runs off instead of inside. The top also lifts for easy cleaning and to retrieve eggs.
Sherisays
Hello. I have a Rouen that has a broken leg (his femur). He hobbles but can’t really walk well. With the fox, raccoons and snapping turtles here, he is extremely vulnerable so he has been caged – swapping between an outdoor pen with a baby swimming pool during the day and a crate in the evenings. Before the break, he roamed freely and had access to a small lake.
你对如何护理断腿有什么建议吗?我带他去了2个鸭子兽医诊所,打电话给无数的康复和/或野生动物机构,没有人能帮上忙。用夹板固定了一个星期,但还是没用。绝望的感觉。谢谢你!