Can you keep free range ducks if you live on a river?

[Patchworkjo]

Hello
I have always wanted runner ducks but as there is a river at the bottom of the garden I have never dared as I thought they would just swim away?

Was I right or am I an idiot?
Thank you

 

[Miss Lydia]

Nope that's a good question, I live above a mountain river and I have my birds fenced in. I don't allow them the opportunity to go down to the river. Not only because they might swim down stream and never get back but because of predators we have hawks and Eagles plus all the other predators that live in our mountains. I actually met my first duck in the river below our home a Muscovy drake.

 

[Isaac 0]

I have a fairly large stream that runs through my property, on occasion (Mostly in the spring) the ducks will float down quite far, but always seem to come back, yours might not. So it's your choice really, but expect to lose a few each year to predators.

 

[Patchworkjo]

Thank you. I’m not sure other than foxes and maybe red kites would be the predators here, but it does add another reason it may not work.....lots to think about.