emptymag wrote:A5321194-4A23-4680-A6D8-83570D8F90D2.jpeg
I got the hen houses up. 6’ posts and just over 3’ of ice. I got some tan/brown outdoor carpet and wrapped the houses with it, I got sick of doing the straw so I’ll see how this works. They still have straw stuffed inside them.
Mallard hens are territorial. Best if only 1 nest per 5 acres.
Straw should not be used as it's way too light and blows out. Use upland fine stalked hay.
6' pipe is 95% of the time too short.
Find a well driller in your area and bring sawzall with. Buy a used 1" id well pipe which is 21' long. Cut it at 9.5' so also a 11.5' piece for deeper/softer bottom. Bottom of the nest should be a min of 3' up off the ice. This year after last years drought, 4 to 5' up. Remember it needs to be at least 2' up even after rainy season/floods.
That's my experience after doing them for 30+ yrs.
Good luck.
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God, help me be the man that my dog thinks that I am.