Big ducks

[ringaring]

Hi, I am looking for large duck breeds that can't squeeze through or fly over our fencing or squeeze under the gates. We have Mallards and Aylesbury ducks. We've lost 3 Mallards to road traffic lately. Unless we re-fence the entire 3 acres, we expect we may lose the rest. They have plenty of ponds, woods, shelter and food but they keep wandering across the road to play in the ditches. TIA for any suggestions.

 

[EverythingDucks]

Pekin ducks are quite large and can't fly or get through small spaces. But they are known to have some health issues because of how heavy they are. Since they are a meat breed they normally wouldn't live for very long before being butchered, so those health issues aren't a problem for most.
Rouens are very similar to Mallards though much larger. Cayuga's are also quite large. Neither of these can fly well either.
Aylesburys are large so I don't think you'll have issues with them as much.

Could you just re-fence the side that they're getting through to cross the road?

 

[KaleIAm]

Pekin ducks are quite large and can't fly or get through small spaces. But they are known to have some health issues because of how heavy they are. Since they are a meat breed they normally wouldn't live for very long before being butchered, so those health issues aren't a problem for most.
Rouens are very similar to Mallards though much larger. Cayuga's are also quite large. Neither of these can fly well either.
Aylesburys are large so I don't think you'll have issues with them as much.

Could you just re-fence the side that they're getting through to cross the road?

x2

Instead of completely redoing the fence maybe you could just put a strip of chicken wire at the base of the fence and trim your mallards flight feathers to keep them from flying. At least you could protect the ones you already have this way.

 

[Quacking ducks]

Rouen, blue Swedish, silver Appleyard,

 

[ringaring]

Pekin ducks are quite large and can't fly or get through small spaces. But they are known to have some health issues because of how heavy they are. Since they are a meat breed they normally wouldn't live for very long before being butchered, so those health issues aren't a problem for most.
Rouens are very similar to Mallards though much larger. Cayuga's are also quite large. Neither of these can fly well either.
Aylesburys are large so I don't think you'll have issues with them as much.

Could you just re-fence the side that they're getting through to cross the road?

We've identified several areas they go through regularly. We'd have to re-fence most of the property, lower the gates into the mud & as a last resort, clip their wings which makes them vulnerable to predators - a bit too cost prohibitive. Luckily, the remaining Mallards seem content to stay close to the Pekin/Aylsburys.

 

[EverythingDucks]

Have you considered getting Muscovies? Technically not a duck, but they are very large and would not be able to get through small areas.

 

[ringaring]

x2

Instead of completely redoing the fence maybe you could just put a strip of chicken wire at the base of the fence and trim your mallards flight feathers to keep them from flying. At least you could protect the ones you already have this way.

We are trying the chicken wire strip. Clipping their feathers leaves them too vulnerable to local predators.

 

[ringaring]

Have you considered getting Muscovies? Technically not a duck, but they are very large and would not be able to get through small areas.

We have 6 muscovies coming in May. I wanted them originally but read they were illegal for other than meat birds. Recently I've seen them available at several big hatcheries so ordered them. Are they now OK to keep?

 

[ringaring]

Rouen, blue Swedish, silver Appleyard,

I like Appleyards. Considering them with the Muscovies I ordered.

 

[SolarDuck]

We have 6 muscovies coming in May. I wanted them originally but read they were illegal for other than meat birds. Recently I've seen them available at several big hatcheries so ordered them. Are they now OK to keep?

I've never heard anything saying they were illegal other than meat birds.