can ducks be raised on a river?

[baucomgop]

Hello,
Can pekins or cuyuga ducks raised on a riverfront home be expected to stay home? There would be a duck house and a pen, but if let out to enjoy the yard and river, would they float down the river and get lost? There are wild mallards, swan and geese on the river.
Thanks for any insight.
Louisa

 

[Frank Phinster]

I would not recommend to let the ducks on the river. As long as they are new to your place and do not feel at home they would not stay and swim away. Before giving them access to the river, I would keep them in a pen with a bathtub til for a few weeks.
What kind of river are you talking about? What is the current like? If the current is strong, the ducks might be swept away, especially when high water occurs. They also might explore the other side of the river and then you would have a great time getting them back to your place in the evening.
Another problem are auquatic or semi- aquatic predators.
Also it might be that they get into trouble with the geese and swans that think of the river as their home.

But maybe you include a stretch of the riverbank and nearby shallow water into your pen so that they could use the fresh water without the chance of swimming away or being swept away? I don't know whether this would be legal, or being constructed without too many difficulties, though.

 

[Kevin565]

I would not personally advise raising them on a river. A strong current could easily sweep them away and they'll end up lost. What species of swan is there? Swans have been known to attack ducks.