Duck Coop with yard with automatic watering/feeding system
Like 4 Dislike 0 Published on 4 Aug 2015
Overview of a DIY duck coop with attached duck yard.
The coop was built to provide:
1. Easy accessibility to clean/access eggs without needing to enter the duck yard
2. Minimal size to increase insulation properties with R13 insulation in the floor and ceiling (8' x 3' x 3')
3. Raised coop to protect against predators and provide shading /protection to ducks during the daylight hours
4. Horizontal sliding door on a track system to allow ramp access
5. Designed to easily add electricity, timed lighting system and automatic door opening using light sensors
The duck yard was designed to be:
1. Predator proof using PVC coated hardware cloth
2. Self filtering, low odor and easy to clean due to 8" depth of construction sand (also provides necessary grit for duck digestion)
3. Gravity fed watering and feed stations to allow +2 weeks of water/feed without need for replenishment
4. 7' ceiling height with +300 square feet of space
Update to the watering pails... made some thermal insulated pails to get me through the winter. You can see a video of them here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8U_zuXEtYujVnJDcGtTLWVPeU0/view?usp=sharing
I also talk about how to build them here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/duck-breed-focus-silver-appleyard.1035842/page-3#post-16212392
The gravity fed watering station (20 gallon garbage can) is filled once a month. I put in 1TB/per gallon (or 1 1/4 cups) of Apple Cider Vinegar into the station each time i fill it up. ACV increases the acidity of the water which inhibits microorganism growth in the water. ACV also is thought to boost poultry immune systems.
Update to drinking station: devised a new water station that provides continuous drink and dunking water for ducks in the late spring, summer and fall months. You can see an overview of it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8ybQ40noV0
You can see the ducks using it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6al0Jzo6l4
A 3-part video showing what is involved in taking care of my ducks on a day-to-day basis can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Wdqw2FdJJw
Also of interest is how to cut feed costs be raising mealworms for your ducks. The following videos provides an overview of the mealworm lifecycle and shows a simple 3 drawer method to raising mealworms: https://www.youtube.com/edit?video_id=brBjS9Il3k8&video_referrer=watch
Finally, if you're interested to know how I go about maintaining the sand (rinsing, disinfecting and de-compacting) you can see all about that here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCjFh8I4rPU
Current updates to the duck yard/coop include:
-install of a poultry light on a timer providing the ducks at least 15 hours of light per day (necessary if you want to continue getting high egg output): http://www.onceinnovations.com/agriculture-lighting/layer-poultry-lighting/jll-8w-led-layer-poultry-light-with-dim-to-red-technology
- Solar lights on inside and outside of duck yard to help with maintenance when the sun goes down
- A three sectional 6' nesting box station for ducks to go into to get out of the rain, lay eggs, keep warm, or just to be by themselves
- A 6' x 2' x 2' utility shed in the duck yard to keep all tools necessary to maintain duck yard.
- Solar power Christmas lights which go around the yard (top and sides) b/c everyday with ducks is like Christmas day...
Please comment on your thoughts or improvements that could be done below. Thanks for watching.