Delta Waterfowl Delivers Materials to Add 1,760 More Hen Houses to Prairie Canada

The Duck Hunters Organization continues to move towards its long-term goal of adding 1 million ducks to every fall flight in perpetuity

Hen Houses—cylindrical nesting structures made of rolled wire mesh, stuffed with flax straw, and mounted on poles over water—are the most cost-efficient tool for increasing mallard nest success and one of the keys to boosting duck production. Recently, a shipment containing steel, wire, and hardware components for 1,760 Hen Houses was delivered to Delta Waterfowl’s storage facility in Saskatchewan.

“This location is in the heart of prime wetland habitat in Saskatchewan and will serve as a distribution center for Hen House installations in both Alberta and Saskatchewan,” said Matt Chouinard, waterfowl programs director for Delta. “This efficient process ensures that we get the structures to our contractors in a timely manner, so they’re ready to install as soon as the ice on the wetlands is thick enough for travel.”

The installation of the Hen Houses will occur this winter to guarantee that they’re ready to welcome nesting ducks in the spring. Positioned in semi-permanent wetlands, the elevated nesting structures protect ducks from predators, significantly increasing their chances of successfully hatching nests—and ultimately adding more ducks to fall flight.

“With the Canadian prairie’s variable wetland conditions and a period of prolonged drought impacting Saskatchewan, Hen Houses play a critical role in boosting duck production in the area,” said Chouinard.

In fact, studies conducted over the past three decades of Delta Waterfowl’s Hen House research have shown that nest success in these structures is up to 12 times higher than that of ground-nesting mallards in nearby grasslands. With Delta’s Million Duck Campaign pushing work forward, efforts continue to enhance the program’s efficiency and effectiveness.

“Improvements in this year’s design will also make a big difference,” Chouinard added. “The new structures are easier to ship, transport, and install than in previous years. We’re confident that the durability and overall performance will be better than ever. We’re looking forward to the upcoming installation season.”

To learn more about Delta’s Hen House research and how these structures impact duck production, explore: What is a Delta Hen House?

For more information on Delta’s Hen House and Duck Production programs, contact Matt Chouinard at mchouinard@deltawaterfowl.org.