A Guide to Duck Houses

The Perks of Owning Ducks

Duck eggs are larger than chicken eggs and are known for their rich flavor. A good home will ensure good egg production. Other benefits of owning ducks can include lawn maintenance and pest control.

What Is a Duck House?

Duck housing can be as simple or as elaborate as you choose. Whether you convert a small doghouse or build a custom shed, the one thing a duck house must be is predator-proof. Domestic ducks move very slowly on the ground and can’t fly, so they are extremely vulnerable to predators—especially at night—and need a safe place to sleep, lay their eggs and maybe even raise ducklings.

Ducks, unlike chickens, don’t need roosting bars and will rarely use nesting boxes, instead preferring to make a nest in one corner of the house on the floor. An old playhouse or a gardening or potting shed works quite well for duck housing. As long as it's fitted with a door and has hardware cloth over any openings, any of these structures will get your ducks' approval.

Considerations When Building a Good Duck House

Keeping these various points in mind, you should easily be able to build a simple house or convert an existing structure into a safe, secure house for your ducks. After your duck coop is up and running, consider some of our beautiful duck pen landscaping ideas, as well as plants that thrive in an environment with ducks.

Calculate the Size of the House

Before you decide how fancy your duck house will be, figure out how large it needs to be. You should allow for 4 square feet of floorspace per duck. Since ducks typically sleep on piles of bedding on the floor, they need enough room to be able to get comfortable.

What's the Breed of Your Ducks?

There are dozens of duck species that make perfect backyard birds and pets. Remember that depending on your breed, the size of your duck home may need to be adjusted—Pekin ducks (yellow), for example, will grow to twice the size of a full-grown Mallard (brown).

Create Predator Protection

It's important to enclose your duck house with some type of fencing or wiring to keep predators out. When building your barrier, bury the fencing at least six inches into the ground to prevent digging animals from getting into the pen.

Design a Large, Secure Duck Door

Your duck entrance should include a door with a secure lock. This is especially important if you're in an area that is frequented by raccoons—they're experts at opening doors. Remember that raccoons can slide deadbolts and lift latches. A locking eye hook is a good choice for the house door. The door of your home should be large enough for multiple ducks to enter and exit at the same time; ducks often push and shove their companions and can get stuck if the door is too small.

Add a Ramp, If Necessary

If the duck house isn’t ground level, a ramp is necessary for the ducks to use to get in and out—and if the ramp is narrow, adding some railings will help the ducks keep their balance and not fall off the sides.

Install Flooring

Duck houses can sit directly on the ground but should have a wooden or cement floor so predators can’t dig underneath to gain access. A piece of inexpensive vinyl flooring over the floor makes for easy clean-up, and also prevents the floor from getting wet if you leave water in the house overnight for your ducks.

Add Plenty of Ventilation

The house should be at least 3 feet tall, with vents along the top near the roof to allow for good air flow. Ducks emit lots of moisture when they breathe, and if that moisture can’t escape, it can lead to moldy and mildewed bedding or even frostbitten legs and feet in winter.

The house should also include additional windows with hinged shutters that can be opened or closed as needed, depending on the weather. All vents and windows need to be covered with 1/2-inch hardware cloth to prevent predators from gaining access. It’s best to position windows at least a foot off the ground (or install "shutters") to prevent predators from peeking in and seeing your sleeping ducks. That can unduly stress the ducks and lead to predators working overtime to get in.

Decide If You Need Nesting Boxes

Ducks rarely use nesting boxes. If you do decide to include some boxes, they should be at floor level. The boxes should be at least 14 square inches and filled with clean straw. Alternatively, you can put a wooden box on its side in one corner of the duck house and see if your ducks will use it.

Straw Bedding Is Ideal

Pine shavings work fine for bedding, but our ducks prefer straw. Straw has wonderful insulating properties during colder months, keeping ducks warm; it also holds its shape better, so they don’t end up sleeping on the cold wood or cement floor. Straw also doesn’t tend to become sodden like shavings do when wet, and doesn’t harbor mold like hay can. Regardless, wet or soiled bedding should never be allowed to stay in the duck house because mold fungi can lead to aspergillosis, a potentially fatal infection of the duck’s respiratory tract.

A Water Source Is Necessary

A water source is a critical element in a duck pen. Ducks will use a small pool to stay clean and cool off during warm months. You can also create a more natural environment for your ducks by either creating or giving them access to a pond.

Deter Flies with Rosemary

Hanging rosemary can help deter flies from your duck's home. Try planting rosemary or other aromatic herbs in mass near your duck home for best results.