Among industrial breeds of poultry, many do not in vain stop their attention on domestic ducks, these animals are unpretentious, and also do not cause any difficulties in their maintenance. However, when breeding ducks without a special house for the bird can not do. About how and from what to create this building in the country, as well as how to properly equip it, it will be discussed in the article.

Types of premises for keeping ducks

Today, there are many building materials and approaches to the construction of a cedar. Therefore, you can create a quality house for yourself on any site, practically from improvised means. The main requirement for such a construction is to provide the birds with comfort and a special microclimate, which will contribute to a balanced development and productivity.

Temporary

A temporary house for ducks is a kind of corral for their maintenance. The device of such a structure allows you to instantly create a separate corner for the bird, without serious investment. But, the main disadvantage of such a structure is its inability to cold, therefore they use it exclusively in the summer, for a short period of time.Externally, such a structure is a wooden frame, sheathed with a metal mesh. Thus, the design allows you to keep the bird in a separate area, but provide it with complete safety and the ability to walk freely in the fresh air. After the construction of the capital duck, the temporary house is often not destroyed, it is used as an auxiliary shelter for bird walking, and also allows you to create isolated conditions for the replenishment of the herd that has arisen.

Did you know? Domestic duck is one of the oldest farm animals. It was tamed more than 2 thousand years ago by the ancient Egyptians and Indians.

Wood

Wood is one of the most common building materials that is used to build all kinds of outbuildings. It makes it possible to build a reliable and capital construction that will provide the bird with comfort regardless of weather conditions. One of the most noticeable advantages of a tree is its simplicity in processing. A birdhouse can be created both from solid wood, and from timber, boards, etc.But there are disadvantages to such material. The tree is quite vulnerable to sudden changes in moisture, and is also practically not protected from all kinds of pests. Therefore, buildings made of such material require periodic maintenance and additional expenses for maintenance materials. In addition, despite the low thermal conductivity, a wooden house will still require additional insulation.

Made of brick or aerated concrete

Outbuildings made of brick or concrete blocks often cost several times more than wood and other materials, but they have several advantages. Despite the fact that a team of qualified masons is required to create such buildings, a monolithic structure made of brick-concrete materials is characterized by durability and almost absolute invulnerability to moisture and other weather conditions. Subject to all building standards, such a caddy will last several decades without any additional investment.The main disadvantage of brick and concrete blocks is their relatively high thermal conductivity. In winter, such a house will be difficult enough to heat, and in the spring-autumn period, excessive moisture may accumulate indoors. In the end result, with insufficient heating, this can lead to colds in the bird.

Polycarbonate

In the last decade, polycarbonate structures have become widespread in many areas. But, not many people know that from this material you can quite successfully create a house for ducks. Such a structure is often built on the basis of a metal or wooden frame, on top of which polycarbonate is fixed. Most often, such houses are common in regions with warm and mild winters.Although such material is not able to retain heat for a long time, under its cover optimal conditions are created for wintering birds in areas with frost-free winters. Such a house protects ducks from drafts and helps to keep their body warm throughout the night. In addition, in such a ducklit it will always be light, since most varieties of polycarbonate have almost absolute transparency.

How to make a do-it-yourself duckling

Despite the fact that the construction of the cradle provides for the construction of a capital structure, you can create this design with your own hands. This will require a minimum set of necessary tools and building skills. In this case, most attention should be paid to calculating the size of the structure and determining its location. Not only the favorable microclimate in the house itself depends on this, but also the productivity of ducks.

Choosing a place to build

The choice of a place for construction is the first thing that every poultry breeder who decides to create a house for ducks should think about. Despite the fact that in nature, ducks are able to survive in the most difficult conditions, their domestic relatives require more comfortable and cozy conditions. To achieve them, the duck house should be located on:

• areas remote from water bodies and marshy areas;
• the southern side of the suburban area;
• a plain or a small hill (this will help to avoid flooding the house during the autumn-spring season);
• areas with low humidity (excessive moisture causes plumage problems in birds).

Important! Wood must be with a moisture content of not more than 22%, otherwise its performance is reduced significantly.

Calculation and measurement

As you know, for normal growth and productivity, ducks require a fairly spacious dwelling, 1 m² of such a house should provide a living space of no more than 2-3 ducks. But this does not mean that if you contain about 15 ducks, then the duck must not be more than 5 m².

Over time, young offspring may appear in the stock, which will require additional space for themselves, and other circumstances may arise that affect the housing condition of the bird.

That is why most experienced farmers argue that the optimal size of the house for ducks should be 10, and preferably 15 m² more than the norm requires. In this case, even with a slight increase in the number of herds, you can not worry about the possible crowding inside the barn.In addition, this makes it possible to take into account the loss of space occupied by feeders, drinking bowls, nests, etc. Therefore, the minimum size of a duck shed should be about 15–20 m². In this case, with a sharp increase in the number of ducks, the house can accommodate up to 50 individuals.

Today in the network there are a lot of all kinds of ready-made drawings of ducklings. Let us dwell on a standard building with a total area of ​​20 m². It will be divided into a separate room for poultry and vestibule. Additionally, a separate free-walking area, the so-called walking patio, will be created near the building.It should be remembered that these sizes are only schematic, so the drawings can easily be adjusted if you are planning to create a home even for a population of 50 or more ducks.

Materials and tools for work

After weighing the pros and cons, we opted for wood, as the main material for the construction of the structure. This solution has many advantages. Wood does not require a complex monolithic foundation, while it is easier to process than brick and other building materials.

For the construction will need such materials:

• timber 150 × 150 mm, 3 m - 2 pcs.;
• timber 150 × 150 mm, 2.5 m - 5 pcs.;
• timber 100 × 100 mm, 3 m - 7 pcs.;
• timber 100 × 100 mm, 1.7 m - 5 pcs.;
• timber 50 × 100 mm, 3.5 m - 10 pcs.;
• profile pipe 40 × 40 mm, 2.5 m - 4 pcs.;
• mesh netting - depending on the required size;
• mounting rail 2.5-3 m - 10 pcs.;
• OSB 3 slab - 100-150 m² (depending on the complexity of the design);
• roofing material - 1 pc.;
• reinforcement 10 mm - 5 m;
• film hybrid barrier - 20 m²;
• wood screws 50 mm - 3 pack;
• roofing screws with a rubber washer (if necessary) - 100 pcs.;
• polyurethane foam - 1 cylinder;
• river sand - 2 m³;
• wire - 5 m;
• insulation, if necessary (expanded clay, polystyrene foam, min of cotton wool, etc.) - 40 m²;
• metal tires - 5 m;
• building cement - 3 bags.

Important! It is only necessary to build a separate duck shed if it is envisaged to contain more than 10 ducks on the farm, a small population of 4-5 individuals can get along with hens in the chicken coop without problems.

Among the tools you should get the following:

• bayonet, helical and paddle shovels;
• 5-7 meter tape measure;
• level;
• square;
• chisel;
• screwdriver;
• jigsaw;
• plane;
• hacksaw for wood;
• container for mixing concrete;
• a bucket of 10-12 liters;
• hammer;
• plumb line;
• furniture stapler;
• wooden pegs;
• tight rope.

Phase of construction

Once you have decided on the place for the future structure and its size, you can proceed with the construction of the barn. To do this, it is advisable to divide the entire construction process into separate blocks. This will not only simplify the construction process, but also help to make the most efficient use of available time.

Foundation and floor

If you have chosen wood as the main material, it is advisable to make a pile-type foundation for the future structure, in which case the main structure will be located on a certain elevation relative to the soil. This will help to save money on the foundation, as well as prevent flooding of the barn and protect it from the penetration of rodents.

The process consists of the following steps:

1. Mark the territory of the future building with pegs and a rope, and then remove the top layer of soil (25-30 cm) and level the site.
2. On the inside of the perimeter of the site, create 10-11 recesses of 1 meter in increments of 70–75 cm, and then pour 15 cm of river sand onto the bottom.
3. Use the ruberoid to set the formwork in each hole, the structure should be 20–25 cm high above the soil.
4. Install reinforcing bars in the formwork so that the structure resembles a regular square. Connect the rods to each other with jumpers made of wire.
5. Fill the cavity between the formwork and the soil with river sand, and then fill the holes with liquid concrete of grade M 200. After that, the markings from the pegs can be removed.
6. When the foundation hardens, you can begin to create a wooden frame. Install on the extreme piles of bars 3 m with a cross section of 150 × 150 mm, and then fix them together using longitudinal bars, 2.5 m long. In this case, the step between the transverse bars should be within 45-50 cm.
7. Sheathe wood frame with OSB.
8. If you plan to insulate the floor, this should be done at the stage of construction of the floor. To do this, on top of the OSB subfloor, a wooden crate is installed from the mounting rail, so that a uniform frame with cells of 40 × 40 or 50 × 50 mm is created on the floor. Insulation is placed in the cells, which is fixed by a hydrobarrier, and then sheathed with an OSB plate.

Video: foundation and floor for the house

Walls

After the construction of the foundation and floor, you can proceed with the construction of wall panels. For this:

1. Install in the corners of the structure, perpendicular to the floor, a wooden beam 1.7 m long with a section of 100 × 100 mm.
2. Fix the bars to the floor with screws using metal tires. To increase the structural stability, the beam is reinforced with bevels 40–50 cm long from a 100 × 100 mm beam (they are attached on one side to the foundation, and the other on the stand bars on each side).
3. Fix the stand bars to each other at the top around the perimeter with the help of bars 100 × 100 mm.
4. Mark the openings for windows and doors, and then strengthen the walls with horizontal jumpers in increments of 40-50 cm, which are attached horizontally to the floor, between the stand bars (use a beam with a section of 100 × 100 mm for this);
5. Install the door and window frames in the pre-marked areas in the created frame, and then sheathe the wooden frame with OSB from the inside and outside (all the gaps between the plates must be filled with mounting foam).

Video: building walls for the house

Roof and ceiling

After installing the walls, you should immediately begin to equip the roof:

1. Install over the rafter structure (the beams are made from a beam of 50 × 100 mm).
2. Fasten them in the longitudinal direction in increments of 50 cm, and then connect them with transverse bars in increments of 20 cm. Each of the joints should be reinforced with metal tires.
3. After the construction of the frame on a wooden crate, roofing material is installed, which is closed with slate or other roofing material, of your choice.
4. When the roof is erected, you can begin to arrange the ceiling. To do this, on the inside of the barn it is covered with OSB boards.
5. After installation of the entire structure (to give aesthetics), the building can be painted with paint or ennobled with other facade materials.

Video: building a roof for the house

Place for walking

The walking area is an optional building, however, if you want a healthy and productive bird that provides quality products, you can not do without it. Install this design after the arrangement of the main parts of the coffer. For a house of 20 m², its area should be at least 8–10 m².

The main stages of the construction of a walking patio:

1. Along the perimeter of the wall with the outlet, fix 2 profile pipes in the soil.
2. In parallel with 2 pipes, install two more, all of which should be at the same height, not lower than 1.7–2 m.
3. Pull the netting around the metal pipes and fix it to the posts using metal wire. At the same time, there should not be any openings between the duckling and the fence.
4. If necessary, create a protective shelter above the fence from the same netting net.

Important! When fixing the main load-bearing beams, it is necessary to use the connection according to the “half-tree” method, this will give the whole structure reliability and durability.

Winterizing the premises

If you live in a warm region, such a structure will become a reliable shelter for birds in any weather, but residents of temperate and northern climatic zones should definitely take care of the structure's insulation. Since in winter such a structure will freeze, which will certainly cause hypothermia and colds of ducks.

Warming of the shed is carried out at the stage of sheathing the structure. For this, a heater is placed in the cavity between the inner and outer sides of the walls, as well as in the cavity between the ceiling and the roof. It is mounted in blocks, in 2 layers, while each layer must necessarily overlap the joints between the plates of the previous one, which will help strengthen the thermal insulation abilities of the insulation, as well as avoid freezing bridges of the structure.Today there are a huge number of various heaters, but the most popular among them are:

• mineral wool;
• basalt cotton wool;
• Styrofoam;
• penoplex (extruded polystyrene foam).

The most profitable and versatile material is foam boards, including extruded polystyrene foam. They are less expensive in the final installation, and are also not affected by moisture.

In addition, such a heater does not require specialized knowledge for installation. In the case of basalt or mineral insulation, if the technology is not followed, moisture will accumulate in its layers, which will lead not only to poor thermal insulation, but also to the aggressive effect of moisture on wooden structures.

Did you know? Everyone knows that ducks are water animals, but few people know that in search of prey they can dive to a depth of 6 meters.

Arrangement of a caddy

Before putting into operation a shed for ducks, it is necessary to take care of its arrangement. The duckbill should be provided not only with auxiliary equipment (feeders, drinking bowls, nests), but also with the necessary microclimate.

Creating a microclimate

Despite the fact that ducks can withstand any weather conditions, for optimal growth and productivity, the bird needs warmth and comfort. In summer, the temperature optimum for it is within +22 ... + 25 ° С, in winter - not lower than +12 ° С. Therefore, in winter, the shed must be heated with a stationary heating system or with the help of electric heaters.

For normal life, ducks need daylight hours of at least 14–16 hours. Often during the daytime, natural light through the window openings will be sufficient, but in the evening, the duck-tree should be highlighted. To do this, install indoor lighting with a calculation of 1 W per each m² of area of ​​the structure. They place the lighting lamps on the ceiling evenly over its entire surface.Drafts are extremely contraindicated for ducks, but they need a natural ventilation system. Equip ventilation holes on opposite sides of the structure, above the level of the nests and always at a different level relative to each other.

Nests

Nests are installed in the shed in the first place, since without them the ducks will not be able to rush fully. They are made from natural materials, solid wood or all kinds of wood materials are best suited for this. To save money, nests can be made from the remnants of building materials after the construction of the ducklings. The dimensions of the nests should be strictly observed, otherwise it will be inconvenient for the ducks to carry them, the optimal dimensions of such a design are within 45 × 40 × 35 cm (L × W × H).The front of such a box should remain open or have a small side of 10-15 mm, such an opening will serve as a convenient entrance for the bird. It is best if the nests are built in 2-3 mesh structures, which simplify further care and maintenance. The number of such structures in the cadre is calculated on the basis of the size of the number of birds, one nest should be no more than 2-3 birds.

Feeding troughs and drinking bowls

Duck feeders are also made from natural materials, the simplest and most inexpensive designs are small wooden trays 70 × 20 × 8 cm (L × W × D). Feeding troughs can be any sizes, the main thing that they were convenient for birds.Drinking bowls are made from any sealed vessel, most often farmers use small plastic or metal trays made of non-aggressive materials. The number of drinkers and feeders is selected based on the size of the livestock, with each duck must have at least 15–20 cm of each tank. They are installed both in the house for ducks and in the walking yard, otherwise the bird will feel a shortage of food or water.

Ash baths

All birds are susceptible to all kinds of feather parasites, the life cycle of which causes serious damage not only to the plumage, but also to the skin. To combat them use the so-called ash baths. They are small rectangular trays made of wood, metal or plastic. The optimal size of such a box is considered to be 120 × 70 × 20 cm (L × W × H).As a filler for an ash bath, a finely divided mixture made of equal parts of crushed ash and river sand is used. Adding filler to parasites will help to add 15–20% of peat or clay to the sand-ash mixture.

Did you know? To prevent the feathers of the duck getting wet during swimming, the bird carefully covers it with the fat mass secreted by a special gland. Fat also helps them stay on the water, which draws the air between the feathers and down into a kind of air capsule.

Additional recommendations

The most significant recommendations of professional farmers in the construction of the crab:

• it’s not worth saving on the size of windows, ducks like light, and with its lack, inhibition of their growth and productivity can be observed;
• the entrance opening should be covered with a small curtain made of dense fabric, this will help protect the bird from drafts;
• the opening between the soil and the floor of the shed must be at least 30 cm, otherwise the shed will freeze and the floor will be exposed to moisture;
• it is not worth saving on the thickness and quality of the insulation, otherwise it is fraught with freezing of the duck house;
• if the building site is located in a lowland on it, it is necessary to provide for drainage and, if possible, pour a sand cushion;
• all load-bearing structures made of wood must be treated with protective substances (fire protection), this will help to increase the operational ability of the structure at times.

In order to ensure bird comfort, each farmer must adhere to the following recommendations when servicing a duck house:

• ducks are water birds, therefore, if possible, in a walking yard you need to create a small pond for swimming, this will help not only increase their immunity, but also improve productivity;
• ducks are vulnerable to sudden changes in temperature, therefore, it is necessary to install a thermometer in the shed, and its indicators should be monitored daily (especially in winter);
• on the floor of the duckweed, you need to cover the litter with a thickness of 15 cm, it will help maintain an optimal hygienic condition indoors, as well as protect the bird from frostbite of its legs in winter;
• drinkers and feeders should be cleaned regularly, otherwise they can become a source of all kinds of infections;
• hygiene is one of the main rules, the violation of which is fraught with an infectious lesion of the bird, so it should be cleaned at least once a week.

Today, there are many technical solutions for building a duck house, but the most optimal option is wooden buildings. They are not only less costly during construction, but also help to create a favorable microclimate indoors for the life and productivity of the bird.