5 DIY Duck Pen Ideas [+ Helpful Tips on How to Build the Best Pen]

Duck pen ideas! Many people put off keeping ducks after seeing duck pens that are muddy and filthy! But although ducks love to play in the water, the correct duck accommodation doesn’t have to be somewhere you’d only venture into with waterproof boots.

Let’s look at some clever and innovative duck pen ideas, as well as some top tips on how to build the ultimate duck pen!

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Our Favorite DIY Duck Pen Ideas!

We’ve searched all our favorite duck farms to find the best duck pen ideas.

After searching every feathery fold – we discovered the following.

Super Simple Duck Coop House (by House Billings)
Scrap Wood Duck House (by Cape Coop Farm)
Detailed Duck Coop and Pen (by Joy R)
Turning an Old Bed into a Duck Pen and Coop (by Mother the Mountain Farm)
Deluxe Duck Palace (by The Good Life Here)

Let’s also examine these DIY duck pen plans and ideas in detail.

Sound fun?

Let’s begin!

1. Super Simple Duck Coop by House Billings

Check out this adorable duck pen enclosure by House Billings. The duck pen is cheap to build. Expect an upfront cost of around $50 – $150, depending on where you get your lumber. They also show how they constructed their DIY duck pen housing. The ducks like it too – they seem so happy!

If you’ve got your outdoor run all figured out for your ducks but are a bit stuck on the overnight accommodation, this is a low-budget and simple coop that would work in several situations. Even the most novice DIY enthusiast would be able to manage this creation, which is snug and perfect for a few backyard ducks.

Make sure you watch this video to the end, as the bottom-waggling ducks are super cute when they move into their new coop!

2. Scrap Wood Duck House by The Cape Coop Farm

beautiful scrap wood duck house and duck pen — The Cape Coop Farm created a beautiful duck house and pen perfect for backyard poultry enthusiasts! Their article mentions how they used scrap wood around their homestead to save cash. Smart move! They share excellent DIY duck pen instructions on their blog. We recommend reading it!

Not only is this a very low-cost duck house, but the makers have many good ideas for making an excellent duck pen. I love how they use adhesive vinyl tiles for a waterproof and easy-clean floor. This blog highlights the different needs of ducks compared to chickens, which is helpful for a new duck keeper.

PS: Don’t forget to read the article on Cape Coop Farm showing how they built their duck pen from scrap lumber! Check out the DIY duck pen guide here.

3. Duck Coop and Pen by Joy R

We love this duck coop from Joy R. It’s like Fort Knox for ducks! The washers and screws hold the duck coop fencing snug – so hungry foxes and weasels can’t sneak inside. Each door gets two locks to prevent curious animals from accessing the ducks. Or their eggs!

Want fine detail about building a duck pen? Then you will find everything you need to know about creating a home for ducks here! Every step of the design gets carefully considered. Right down to the size of the entrance. And the best duck nesting box doors!

Read More – Do Ducklings Need a Heat Lamp at Night?

4. Turning an Old Bed into a Duck Pen and Coop by Mother the Mountain Farm

Here’s our favorite thrifty duck pen! If you watch this DIY duck pen tutorial, you’ll notice that the duck pen also has a few hidden features. It has top-notch security. If unwanted predators try to sneak their way inside the duck pen, they’re in for a little shock. See for yourself!

Many homesteaders are trying to save money on farm equipment, so this duck pen idea is one of our favorites! I love the idea of reusing old furniture and repurposing it as a duck (and chicken) pen.

I know this sounds hard to believe – but they’ve somehow managed to design an excellent and fully-functional duck pen by using an old bed! Extra points for sustainability.

5. Deluxe Duck Palace by The Good Life Here

We can’t get enough of this duck palace! Carmen and Lee created this DIY duck pen for their adorable rescue ducks. Now the ducks have a luxurious and elegant duck pen to help them relax, unwind, and stay safe. The duck pen has many hidden details – including roomy nesting boxes and sleek duck housing. Check it out!

This wonderful duck palace might not be within everyone’s budget, but I think we can all take some great ideas from this project! The deluxe duck palace features everything required to keep your ducks happy and healthy, from an auto-fill watering system to a rodent-proof feeding station.

Duck pen ideas are easy! That’s because your ducks aren’t as fussy as your chickens, quails, and turkeys. They can safely spend much of the day outside. Ducks tolerate the weather and don’t require fancy duck housing like other poultry. We love leisurely duck pen ideas and duck housing anyway. Ducks deserve a relaxed life!

Helpful Tips on How to Build the Best Duck Pen

Ready to make a start on your first duck pen project? Here are our tip tips and suggestions on how to build the perfect duck pen!

Can You Keep Ducks in a Pen?

It is a good idea to keep ducks in their pen to protect them from predators. Domestic ducks are sitting ducks when it comes to things that seek to eat them, as they find both flying and running difficult.

How Big Does a Duck Pen Need to Be for Two Ducks?

Ducks need a relatively spacious pen compared to chickens. Two ducks need a coop with around 10 square feet of floor space. And an outdoor area of at least 30 square feet.

What Do You Put in the Bottom of a Duck Pen?

Inside the duck coop, you will want a waterproof material that’s easy to clean. The duck coop’s interior can get covered in bedding that absorbs urine and feces, such as straw or woodchip.

What is the Best Flooring for Ducks?

Ducks are messy creatures, so whatever you put in their outdoor run will not stay looking pristine for long! An outdoor duck pen can get built directly onto the ground, where it will nibble at vegetation as it grows. You may want to include some wooden decking to create a drier area within the run.

What Do Ducks Like in Their Pen?

Ducks need a covered area to hide from predators! Duck coops work the best. Comfort also counts! So – duck coops should get bedded down with woodchip or straw. Ducks sleep and lay their eggs on nests on the ground and do not need roosts and nesting boxes.

They will also need an outside area to explore – with access to water and food. Ducks like a pool to splash and play. And environmental enrichment in the form of treat balls, toys, and mirrors.

Should Ducks Have Water in Their Coop?

Ducks should have fresh drinking water in their coop. And a pool to paddle and swim in and splash around. They do not need to be able to access the swimming pool at all times. But ducks should never get kept without clean drinking water – doubly so in the hot summer weather.

Do Ducks Drink a Lot of Water?

Yes! Each duck needs around one liter of drinking water per day. They use water to hydrate and help their eyes, bills, feet, and feathers stay clean. Your ducks will appreciate a drinking water container deep enough for them to submerge their whole head.

Check out this breathtaking duck and chicken farm from Gloucestershire, England. You’ll notice they have the best duck pen idea. It’s open-themed! The only potential issue we see here is duck and poultry predators. Hopefully, your duck pen can help keep neighborhood dogs, foxes, raccoons, and other nasty pests away from your ducks. And other poultry! (In a perfect world – your fields and paddocks have a fence to help keep these predators away. A guard dog or three won’t hurt either!)

Do Ducks Need Fresh Water Every Day?

Drinking water for ducks should get cleaned and refreshed every day. Ducks are notoriously messy with water, as they use it for washing and drinking. Failure to frequently change their drinking and cleaning water may soon lead to ill health.

Should Ducks Have Water at Night?

Yes. Your ducks should have plenty of water – especially in the summer! So it is essential to provide them with drinking water at night.

How Do You Keep Ducks from Making a Mess with Water?

You will soon realize that ducks enjoy the water. A lot! And they make a terrible mess with it! Be prepared to accept that their pool will quickly look muddy and dirty, as there is very little you can do to stop this from happening. We advise providing them with a separate source of drinking water that gets cleaned daily. And remember to top up their play pool with clean water regularly.

Do Ducks Need a Pond?

Ducks do not need an actual pond, but they need enough water to paddle and swim. Your ducks will use water to stay clean and hydrated. And this is a critical form of environmental enrichment for these adorable avian creatures.

If you can provide your ducks with a pond, all the better. They will certainly appreciate it! But this is beyond the reach of many people, so you can use many alternative ways to give them a paddling area.

How Much Water Do Backyard Ducks Need?

Each duck should have at least six square feet of water to swim, float, and bathe. Ducks need access to water to enable them to preen their feathers. A smaller pool may be sufficient, but you may need to drain and refresh the water regularly.

What Do You Use for a Duck Pool?

Luckily there are some great DIY options for a backyard duck pool! Plastic children’s paddling pools are a quick and easy option that will also bring a splash of color to your duck pen. Alternatively, offer them a large water trough, such as those used for sheep and cattle, or an old household bath.

Look at this wondrous array of ducks! We’re surprised more of our homesteading friends don’t raise ducks and goslings. They’re inexpensive, provide delicious duck eggs, and their meat is the best on any farm. We also read an excellent guide with more duck structure ideas. The article recommends something as simple as a shed, cheap fencing, or a feed hopper.

Conclusion

As you can see, ducks do not have complex housing requirements. But it is vital to keep them safe and secure. You will need housing where they can safely nest at night and an outdoor area with a pool where they can paddle and play in the daytime. You must also provide fresh drinking water and clean feeding areas for your feather colleagues.

Are you feeling inspired to start creating your first duck pen? I hope you like some of the fun and creative solutions listed here! If you’ve questions about how to keep ducks or want to share your duck pen ideas, we’d love to hear from you!

Thanks so much for reading.

Have a ducky day!

Kate Chalmers

Kate moved to Portugal last year and lives with her husband, two cats, six hens, and a glorious Brahma rooster called Mary. Earlier this year they purchased a half-hectare ‘quinta’ – traditional terraced land with olive trees, grapevines, and a house to renovate. They are currently living in a small campervan which is a challenging but fun experience! Kate has over 15 years of experience in the UK veterinary industry and is also a passionate gardener – turning a grassy field into a productive vegetable patch in just three months. Future plans include more animals, particularly sheep and goats for milk production to make cheese, butter, and yogurt! Kate and her husband are aiming to create a self-sufficient off-grid life on their quinta, fulfilling a life-long dream.

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