Per my and the ducks morning routine, I am sat in Cafe du Canard, coffee to hand, as I write this. In looking around my walled garden, the concept of duck houses tickled my writing thoughts. What they needed, versus what I thought was best for them.
I have had ducks for about a decade. And in that time I have lived in 3 places, each with very different set ups for my ducks. I have learned a lot along the way, from enclosures to predators, lockdowns to freedom to roam. And ultimately discovering, what makes my ducks happy.
The First Time
My first foray into ducks was taking care of a chicken flock with a single male duck. The chickens had a large coop with run. The duck had a large coop, with pond outside. Both of these were at the bottom of a very very large full fenced garden. (Really more an estate, but then it was a Chateau.) They wandered together during the day, and separated at night.
Because I came to ducks through looking after chickens, I fell into the concept that they were similar, just needing more water. And in some ways they are, they need safety from predators. That’s primary. But do they need a house? That depends.
More Ducks
As the single duck was not happy, nor treated well by the chickens, a mate was found for him. (More on this story here.) This resulted ultimately in a much larger flock. They roamed the gardens, now separate from the chickens. But at night they still went into their duck house, a large ground floor room with mesh front door.
As the chickens and ducks essentially got on, it was decided to merge their spaces somewhat. This would give both much larger areas to roam when enclosed, but also create a nicer space they could be put in when visitors were visiting and they owners did not wish the birds to be roaming. (You can read about building a multi-use enclosure here.)
Second Time Around
In moving to my second home, I built on the previous theme. A large enclosed space, the larger the better, that the ducks could feel free, yet be safe in. This space used existing stone walls on two sides and chicken wire fencing on the other two, topped off with bird netting above. Within the enclosure were a variety of trees and shrubs for shade. A lean-to ‘house’ was against one wall. Cat carriers were brought in during nesting season.
The duck;s house was actually in the old stables of the barn. Each night the ducks went up to the barn to go to their bedroom and were duly closed in. And then let out each morning to go back down into the enclosure. Somewhere along the way there was consideration, ‘why couldn’t they just stay all the time in the enclosure’? That is, the enclosure would become their house.
This Duck Enclosure
You see this duck enclosure was very large. Think a garden room within my garden, with stone and mesh walls, and netted ceiling. Plants, herbs, flowers and trees growing to create green walls, as well as strengthening. It was designed large to give the ducks, and eventual chickens, the freedom to move about when and where they liked, within. And within, there were various shelters for them. As I wasn’t locking them in the barn at night, I wanted them to be able to choose their shelter, as and when needed. And in so doing, discovered it comes instinctively to them.
Their space was large enough, encompassing everything they needed, that I did’t actually have to let them out of the enclosure. I did let them out, as ducks are super curious folk, whenever I worked in the garden. Supervision, but also they were a real hoot at helping garden.
Contemplating Duck Houses
With the latest move, to my wee medieval house, I had a proper re-think. The walled garden was super overgrown, so it meant a few cobbled together aspects before settling on a plan. First I fenced in the little pond in the garden, so the ducks could be kept in safely at night. A couple cat carriers acted as duck houses, should they need shelter. As I was working in the garden it became quickly apparent that, as the pond had a bay leaf bush growing on 3 sides, shelter was not really needed. And this had me looking around and contemplating.
The garden itself has a high wall around 3 sides, with the house making up the 4th. In other words, it’s completely enclosed. Watching my cats, there are only 2 ways in, both requiring cat dexterity and leaping prowess to gain entry. Then I watched and determined what, if any other animals, were coming into my garden. Or flying over it. With knowledge accumulated I spent my first year here turning my entire garden into a duck house.
There, I have rambled my way back to the concept of duck houses.
What Do Ducks Need?
In my contemplation, I realised that ducks don’t actually need duck houses. They need to be kept safe from predators, but they do not actually need to be put in a house during the night. Unless, it’s the preference of their keeper. My preference was to let my ducks wander and have full use of the garden, day, and night. So, because I could, I predator proofed the entire garden.
Ducks that live in the wild don’t actually have or need houses. But they do like shelter. And in my ducks garden that is what I prefer to provide. There are a couple of cat carriers dotted about amongst the trees, which they like to use for nests. But, more importantly, the first thing I did after clearing the garden was plant trees and bushes. Great for safety as well as shelter against the elements. Then I built a pergola that covers the majority of the garden. This acts as deterrent for swooping birds, but also holds up my bird netting to make certain flying predators are being kept out.
More Contemplation
It was not an easy decision to give my ducks free roam of the garden. But I was glad I made it. Taking the time to research, watch the garden and all who visited, and scope out any potential issues was certainly worth it. Their happiness has always been my reasoning. And, although I know from experience, they can be happy in an enclosure, by giving them freedom of the garden it meant they were no longer on my schedule. But rather their own.
They now put themselves to bed at night, usually in the safety of bay leaf bushes by the pond. And they no longer have to wait for me to get up to let them out. (Though my cat Gigi makes certain that I am still awake at dawn even so.) I still keep to a feeding routine with them though. Good for both of us. And if I am a moment late in the morning, I get called to to say ‘hey, where are you!?!’
Love Ducks?
If you like what you have read, or in need of more information on ducks, you will find various helpful posts in my Duck 101. If you find my information helpful consider nourishing Pumpjack & Piddlewick.
I also have a selection of duck gifts available for you or those you know who love ducks in . Some vintage, some our own designs, all unique.
Simply click on the photo to see more.