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Housing |
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Ducks are hardworthy little critters, and are adapted to the cooler climate, but like most animals they need shelter to live in. Below are some basic requirments for a ducky home. If you can't find what your looking for here, try my link section. |
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Like I've said ducks are hard worthy creatures and don't require too much fancy work in there homes. In NSW Australia climate most ducks can survive in an A frame-like structure that's draugh proof. But we aren't all from NSW Australia are we? So first things first. Your duck needs a dry, predator proof, draugh free and happy place to live. |
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Your duck house must be dry. This is so your duck doesn't get any chills from living in a damp house, dampness also brings on fungi infections and as ducks are particualrly weak against fungal and mouldy things this can lead to all sorts of problems. So to prevent this, a good idea is to raise the duck house off the ground slightly, this means if it rains, you won't have a soggy floor, Don't raise it too high though, thats unecesairy, just a few inches will do fine. A good water proof roof is needed too, and a few air holes (specially placed not to let a cold wind gust through or let rain in) help circulate the air. |
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I'm sorry but apart from foxes the occasional cat and rarley a dog, Australia doesn't have many duck predators. And the area I live in is Fox-free. So I only have advice on Predator proofing your home. Check out my links page for some more predator ideas. The pen that the duck house is in, or a run, can be built so the wire sides go underground and at an angle to stop digging predators from getting in. A roof for this Pen or run is in order too as foxes can jump amazingly high, and don't necesairily want to take a body back over with them. Owls and hawks could easily take off with a Bantam (small) duck and perhaps tackle a large one too. And lets not forget how acrobatic and well balanced a cat can be. Its a very big must that if you let your ducks roam free during the day, that they are locked up safe away at night in a pen or run and they must have a form of shelter to sleep in that fits these requirements. |
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Draughs arn't hard to get rid of at all, just make sure that your ducky house has no cracks or badley fitting doors in it to let draughts and cold wind in. I mentioned before some air holes are an idea to help circulate the air, be sure to position them away from a cold wind and rain. The Duck house itself should be postioned facing away from any strong winds and rains too. |
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If your duck house is all these things then your duck should be happy. You don't have to go out an buy a duck house, some people use modified dog kennels and you can easily build your own. Some soft, dry sawdust or straw is good for ducks to sleep on, and encourages laying females to lay and make a nest. Be sure not to get this bedding wet though as it can bring on chills and problems, and it should be changed everyday. |
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<~~ click on the duck to go back |
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