I guess I forgot to include that part. Yes, I will be using hardware cloth for the floor. I built a "hutch" several years ago 8ft by 8ft. I haven't used it in a year. It had 4 pens on one side & one big one on the other. I mostly used the one large side & I used it as a duckling brooder. Last year was the first time in years that I used any of the smaller pens & that was for "extra roosters included for warmth" aka leghorns, when I had, had enough of them because they went canibal on two of my sumatra pullets. Seeing as how I plan never to have that problem again. I've been trying to decide what to do with the masive thing. I recently took it apart, saving some of the basic structure to use for the duck cage/hutch thing. I have in my plans 3 separate doors to aide in the cleaning, 2 plastic trays to fit under the brooder part to keep out drafts but drain ick away, and it will be next to the coop inside the covered run that is in the sun in the winter & in the shade in the summer. I've thought this through over & over trying to fix all the problems I had with the old big mess of a hutch. I think I've addressed them all in the new design but wanted to know other peoples design problems. Yes removing staples and fixing problems is a huge pain in the butt.
Thank you for your suggestions,
Marla
From: lafleche49 <hobbyguy@centurytel.net>
To: CHICKENS-101@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Monday, January 23, 2012 5:49 PM
Subject: [CHICKENS-101] Re: Call duck or east indian duck cage
To: CHICKENS-101@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Monday, January 23, 2012 5:49 PM
Subject: [CHICKENS-101] Re: Call duck or east indian duck cage
Hi Marla, Light weight ducks and bantams ducks really do not require
a wading pool for any reason. They get good fertility on a solid floor or on the ground. I was wondering if this "cage" is going to have a wire floor or a solid wood floor? I ask this because of water spillage issues. If it can drain away then you shouldn't have a lot of problems except when it freezes. Otherwise ducks can turn a wood floor into a slip and slide.
They do require a deep waterer where they can submerge their bill and wash out their nostrils.
It might also be a good thing if you made your duck cage a lot more portable where it can be moved into the shade when it is hot and out into the open when it gets cold and overcast.
One other modification that you might consider would be to have a side door for general care and feeding and a large top door where you can have more access to the floor area in case of a major mess that requires more room to work with.
It is easy to draw a door or other add on and work in the dimensions on your original plans but it can be a complete headache to do it later and have to deal with removing wood, wire, and poultry staples after the fact. Dean
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a wading pool for any reason. They get good fertility on a solid floor or on the ground. I was wondering if this "cage" is going to have a wire floor or a solid wood floor? I ask this because of water spillage issues. If it can drain away then you shouldn't have a lot of problems except when it freezes. Otherwise ducks can turn a wood floor into a slip and slide.
They do require a deep waterer where they can submerge their bill and wash out their nostrils.
It might also be a good thing if you made your duck cage a lot more portable where it can be moved into the shade when it is hot and out into the open when it gets cold and overcast.
One other modification that you might consider would be to have a side door for general care and feeding and a large top door where you can have more access to the floor area in case of a major mess that requires more room to work with.
It is easy to draw a door or other add on and work in the dimensions on your original plans but it can be a complete headache to do it later and have to deal with removing wood, wire, and poultry staples after the fact. Dean
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