Any ideas on how I could let my ducks swim in the creek but have them come back to the coop at night? Could bird netting or something be put across?

[thoeffel1994]

Any ideas on how I could let my ducks swim in the creek but have them come back to the coop at night? Could some sort of bird netting or light fencing be put across and in the creek?
I don't exactly trust them free ranging they're very skittish.

 

[Jurassic_Bawk]

They would definately be more vunerable to predators, but honestly I wouldn't be letting my waterfowl free range right now because of Avian Influenza. Mixing with wild birds or coming into contact with their droppings could infect your birds. Maybe its not too bad where you live? Blocking public waterways with fencing could get you in trouble, and debris will get caught in fencing which would take maintenence or cause damage.

 

[thoeffel1994]

They would definately be more vunerable to predators, but honestly I wouldn't be letting my waterfowl free range right now because of Avian Influenza. Mixing with wild birds or coming into contact with their droppings could infect your birds. Maybe its not too bad where you live? Blocking public waterways with fencing could get you in trouble, and debris will get caught in fencing which would take maintenence or cause damage.

I was thinking some sort of light netting or something temporary that can be moved easily immediately after I let them swim. I'm not planning on permanently blocking it. But I suppose there might still be a law against that?