Bird Netting to keep Muscovy's IN?

[Papmike]

If you go with a 4' fence I would not be concerned about them flying out. The hens can fly but generally do not unless startled. Drakes are too heavy and not an issue. For me the extra work of setting up and maintaining the netting would not be worth it to me.

 

[DukesDucks]

Hi from another Canadian with Muscovy ducks. Mine do free-range all day depending on the weather. I have a 10 x 10 run off the coop I made by buying a portable garage kit. It has a tarp roof, I covered sizes with chicken wire, and made a door with plastic piping. One long side also tarped as wind block. They are happy in there on bad weather days, and it is where their food and water is. As for flying ability, I regularly find my 5 females sitting on top of my house (one story), garage, and vehicle. During summer, when there is lots to forage, I only give them their duck chow in the evening as an enticement to come back to run. Has worked well so far. With the ground covered in snow, they stay fairly close to home because I spread little piles of "scratch chow" for them to find. Only twice have I caught them heading up my lane. I circled around them and chased them back screaming like a crazy person and waving branches. Good thing no one was driving by at the time.

 

[snowyswampchick]

If you go with a 4' fence I would not be concerned about them flying out. The hens can fly but generally do not unless startled. Drakes are too heavy and not an issue. For me the extra work of setting up and maintaining the netting would not be worth it to me.

Thanks, that’s reassuring. Though for protection from hawks and the like I might want to put something up, either

Hi from another Canadian with Muscovy ducks. Mine do free-range all day depending on the weather. I have a 10 x 10 run off the coop I made by buying a portable garage kit. It has a tarp roof, I covered sizes with chicken wire, and made a door with plastic piping. One long side also tarped as wind block. They are happy in there on bad weather days, and it is where their food and water is. As for flying ability, I regularly find my 5 females sitting on top of my house (one story), garage, and vehicle. During summer, when there is lots to forage, I only give them their duck chow in the evening as an enticement to come back to run. Has worked well so far. With the ground covered in snow, they stay fairly close to home because I spread little piles of "scratch chow" for them to find. Only twice have I caught them heading up my lane. I circled around them and chased them back screaming like a crazy person and waving branches. Good thing no one was driving by at the time.

hi! I was looking at carports too for a little “covered run”, but I’d be too nervous to let them free range, our road is dirt but we get motorcycles trucks and tractors zooming by at 80k every 10 minutes. just gonna let them have as large a fenced area as we can

 

[DukesDucks]

The car port type I bought didn't have sides just a roof. Inexpensive if you watch for them to go on sale. On end is attached to the big shed/coop but I also added a couple of 2 x 4s from ground to top metal pole to help with snow load.

 

[snowyswampchick]

The car port type I bought didn't have sides just a roof. Inexpensive if you watch for them to go on sale. On end is attached to the big shed/coop but I also added a couple of 2 x 4s from ground to top metal pole to help with snow load.

Kijiji always has a bunch of them listed, even with the sides cover it would still need to be reinforced with wire fence, if nothing gets in the ducks will get OUT from what I’ve read

 

[FathertoFeathers]

I have had to clip my Muscovy ducks wings because they LOVE to fly.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Yep their love for flying can get them into big trouble. I clip my females wing every fall after molt when they grow their flight feathers back in. My drake stays put.

 

[DukesDucks]

The sides of my run are covered with chicken wire which is buried into the ground about two feet. Given what I am reading, I'm thinking clipping flight feathers for my girls might be a good idea. Can I get some advice on how and when please? Definitely image it is a two person job.

 

[Raenh]

@Miss Lydia has a great picture...
For me it is as two person job, but for others they can get it down themselves

 

[Miss Lydia]