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Should I let them free range or not?

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post #1 of 5

3/29/12 at 5:52am

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WVChickenFarmer

Location: Union, WV
Joined: 5/2011
Posts: 267
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I have two 1 yr old ducks and have had them for about 3 months. They have been staying in a coop and run since I have had.

I thought about maybe letting them free range but I'm scared they won't stay or go back in their run/pen. Our neighbor does have a pond. Do you all think they will go to my neighbors? I hate to keep them cooped up all the time. They are not real friendly either. So if they took off I don't think we would be able to catch them.

Tina
wife to one loving husband, SAHM to 3 wonderful kids, 2 dogs (1 lab mix & 1 pom puppy), 3 silly cats, 1 turtle 1 rabbit, 14 crazy chickens, 7 cute chicks, 1 goose and 3 ducks

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post #2 of 5

3/29/12 at 8:48am

larkflying

Location: NW Washington State - 1 hour north of Seattle in Skagit County
Joined: 6/2011
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Maybe get some poultry netting and use that during the day when you are home to give them a larger area? It is cheap at hardware stores but not strong enough to really protect them so I'd want to be home when I used it.

I tend not to let things out unless I can easily put them back where they are supposed to be (chase the chicken gets old quickly) I'm pretty sure my ducks would give me up for a pond in a flash!

I'd worry about predators too -- eagles , hawks, stray dogs , etc . . .

EE, Buff Orp, Jersey Giant, White Silkie, Barred Rock, Dominique, Cuckoo Maran, Welsummer and Cochin chickens, 9 Welsh Harlequin ducks, 2 Rouen ducks, 9 American Buff geese, one patient husband, 4 children of assorted ages from 5 - 15

post #3 of 5

3/29/12 at 8:59am

Going Quackers

Location: Canada
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I free range all my birds(they are all full flight too) BUT i have no pond/river to entice them to far away. They all know where the barn is and generally come hover around it by dusk. They herd in well, takes under 5mins usually.

You have to make a choice based on what you think is best, each situation offers it's own unique issues, we are not close to the road and own several acres.

~ Firefly Farms home of Miniature horses, 14 Muscovy ducks, 2 calls ducks ( 2 buff ducks joining this spring), 4 Ameraucana chickens(1/2 doz Silkies coming spring, darn chicken math finally got me) , Lionhead rabbits and your typical dogs, cats, fish, and parrots...

post #4 of 5

3/29/12 at 11:41am

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WVChickenFarmer

Location: Union, WV
Joined: 5/2011
Posts: 267
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Thanks, I guess it really is up to me. I guess I'm just afraid they will wonder off. I do let me chickens free range not every day but often. I guess I was just not sure how my ducks would do if I would let them. I'm thinking I might do it on a day I can kind of watch them and see what they do. Also, it would be different if I would have had them since they was babies and know where to go. But since they are older. I was not sure how they would do. I'm sure they will be fine.

Tina
wife to one loving husband, SAHM to 3 wonderful kids, 2 dogs (1 lab mix & 1 pom puppy), 3 silly cats, 1 turtle 1 rabbit, 14 crazy chickens, 7 cute chicks, 1 goose and 3 ducks

post #5 of 5

3/29/12 at 7:58pm

GosfieldAcres

Location: Canada
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I would guess that if your neighbours have a pond your ducks will find it eventually! Our ducks free range (until last week when my neighbour called animal control on me because they went on her lawn twice) and they tend to stay in our yard for awhile and I guess then they get bored and exploratory and after a month or two, they start wandering off. They come back every night, but we do have to chase them out of the other neighbour's trees alot.

Currently we have 22 Khaki Campbells, 4 Saxonys, 3 white Runners, 3 brown Runners, and 4 Muscovys; 3 Chantecler chickens; 9 Embden goslings, and 6 future dinner turkey poults, and then there were these four Rouen ducklings that were extras at the feed store... The door is always revolving.