Well once I have the time, money, and land id like to start up my duck hobby again. DUH. Anywho, this time id definantly like to add calls into the mix. But do they have to be in an aviary/ hutch? Or can they be successfully free ranged? I know they are a flighty breed and im not sure how friendly they are but I adore them lol. No, they would not be for show, just for personal enjoyment and maybe some breeding experiments of my own. So, Call advice? Pictures?
I plan on havin larger breeds of duck as well as at least a half dozen geese. Predators are always a factor when owning animals unfortunantly =/
My call duck pair, Elvis and Priscilla, range freely during the day with the rest of the flock. They mostly hang out with the much larger Cayugas, but they are never off anywhere alone. At night, they trundle right into the coop with everybody else. They fly REALLY well, unlike the rest of the flock. If predation occurs, I am sure a chicken or Cayuga would get taken before the calls, but even then I doubt the Cayugas or chickens are that much in danger, not with the pair of Toulouse geese on patrol!
We have 7 calls and 2 large breed ducks who all free range along with the chickens during the day. At night, the ducks go into one pen and the chickens another. The BEI girl loves to fly over the fence and snarf in my garden but she always flies back with the others. The rest of the calls never fly over a few feet off the ground and will eat from my hand. I think if you raise them from babies and take time with them, offering snacks and such they will be pretty tame. None of mine like to be held, but they do like to hang out around me - hoping for goodies. They are the cutest things.
Well my Calls dont free rang but they are so darn cute and very friendly. Plus they make great mothers and take up so lil space and feed! This is Angel with her brood and this is Pip (Grey Drake) Millie (Blue Fawn Duck) and Angel (White Duck)
