Can I let my ducks roam?

[wtusa1718]

I have almost 10 week old Rouen ducks. Can they roam around my backyard? I do have hawks that I see pretty often.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Is it fenced? So you only have hawks to worry about mainly during the day time? Plus hiding places for them to get under if one flies over?

 

[Jlw0903]

Are you sure you dont have coyotes, fox or racoon?

I'm about 90% sure the hawks will go for your duckies. Even my adult ducks get nervous when the see a hawk. I am overly protective so I only let my ducks roam under supervision.

Get owl decoys and streamers to help deter hawks. And lots of things for your duckies to hide under. Mine know to run back to their pen if they feel threatened.

Fox and coyotes will go after your duckies and if its spring time and they have babies even during the day. Be sure to really predator proof your area. I have a repellent spray, good fencing and motion detector lights. But again I am paranoid and my ducks only go out if I can be there with them.

 

[wtusa1718]

Is it fenced? So you only have hawks to worry about mainly during the day time? Plus hiding places for them to get under if one flies over?

Yes it’s fenced. I would leave there house open so they could go in a get water, food and hiding.

 

[wtusa1718]

Are you sure you dont have coyotes, fox or racoon?

I'm about 90% sure the hawks will go for your duckies. Even my adult ducks get nervous when the see a hawk. I am overly protective so I only let my ducks roam under supervision.

Get owl decoys and streamers to help deter hawks. And lots of things for your duckies to hide under. Mine know to run back to their pen if they feel threatened.

Fox and coyotes will go after your duckies and if its spring time and they have babies even during the day. Be sure to really predator proof your area. I have a repellent spray, good fencing and motion detector lights. But again I am paranoid and my ducks only go out if I can be there with them.

Ok. I have raccoons sometimes. Do you think they will ever be able to roam on there own?

 

[DuckyDonna]

Ok. I have raccoons sometimes. Do you think they will ever be able to roam on there own?

Not if you don't want them to be killed they won't be. You don't say where you live but snakes can get into their night pens if left open so you might not want to do that either depending on where you live. Trust me on that!

Also, what kind of a run fence do you have and how is your night time pen secured? A raccoon will reach its hands in through welded wire, chicken wire, and just about everything except hardware cloth and pull your ducks apart piece by piece.

 

[wtusa1718]

Not if you don't want them to be killed they won't be. You don't say where you live but snakes can get into their night pens if left open so you might not want to do that either depending on where you live. Trust me on that!

Also, what kind of a run fence do you have and how is your night time pen secured? A raccoon will reach its hands in through welded wire, chicken wire, and just about everything except hardware cloth and pull your ducks apart piece by piece.

There pen has hardware cloth. I live in the city so no snakes. And yes we would put them up at night. You told me to use hardware cloth when I had chicken wire a few weeks ago and they have been outside for about 3 weeks at night and no problems.

 

[DuckyDonna]

I literally have over 300 byc emails in my inbox right now so please excuse me for not knowing that I've already responded to you. I'm glad you put hwc on your pen.

Since nobody else has replied I will again. I wouldn't and I don't care that you're in the city. Cities have lots of raccoons and other predators that will get your ducks.

I love my ducks and don't want them to get killed so they are in an all-enclosed pen and run. I don't know where you are but I promise you that you've been lucky so far because there are always predators out there lurking around looking for a duck meal.

 

[wtusa1718]

I literally have over 300 byc emails in my inbox right now so please excuse me for not knowing that I've already responded to you. I'm glad you put hwc on your pen.

Since nobody else has replied I will again. I wouldn't and I don't care that you're in the city. Cities have lots of raccoons and other predators that will get your ducks.

I love my ducks and don't want them to get killed so they are in an all-enclosed pen and run. I don't know where you are but I promise you that you've been lucky so far because there are always predators out there lurking around looking for a duck meal.

Ok. I haven’t let them lose yet. They are in a 6x6 pen for most of the day and I just wanted to know if they could have the whole backyard to roam so they aren’t stuck in a pen

 

[Miss Lydia]

Do it supervised if your yard is fenced.