Do ducks need free range time?

[Sjh115]

I am a first time duck owner and have only had my two girls since February, they were adults at the time that I got them. Their pen is a very good size and predator proof. In their pen they have a huge kiddie pool, shelter, a large tub for drinking water, as well as a mirror and balls to prevent boredom. They have 24/7 access to layer pellets as well as a separate tub I fill with mealworms, corn, and greens daily (I pick their favorite kind of weeds from the yard as well as give them occasional kale or cabbage). I have extensively researched ideal duck pens and nutrition but recently I have been wondering if they are missing out by not being free range like our chickens. I have previously tried to let them out of their pen but they had no interest in leaving. They both lay eggs daily and appear to be healthy. Do y’all think I should try to let them out again or can ducks be just as healthy and happy living in a pen?

 

[chickens really]

Outside time to forage is always great for them. You will have to basically train them to leave the pen.

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

Mine are in their run most of the day, but when I am out in the yard I will let them out to forage.
As @chickens really said, you will have to train them to leave their run since they haven't been out. They will be a bit timid about leaving it. When I first let mine out, they just poked their heads by the door. It took about a week or so to entice them to come out. They get more adventurous the longer I leave them out.

 

[Cayuga momma]

Mine free range and they love it. They actually follow my chickens around now and are part of the flock. It took a about a month, but they love to free range even though they have everything they need in their pen. Now if I don't immediately let them out in the morning they will sit at the run door and quack until I let them out.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Free range is so natural to poultry if I had to keep any of mine penned up 24/7 I think I would chose not to have them.

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

I think being penned up and cooped up are two different things.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Penned to me is an enclosed area cooped to me is inside a coop

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

Penned to me is an enclosed area cooped to me is inside a coop

Yep. But, a lot of people have their poultry penned for safety. Nothing wrong with that. Some people do coop their birds all of the time, I would say that then there is a need to let them out for sure. Let me say that I would never keep birds if they had to be cooped all day long. Free range is different to different people as well. Some have a totally open area, some have just a back yard that is enclosed with a fence. Some might open a smaller penned area into a run and call that free range. As long as they have timed acess to outdoors, that is free range according to the government. Nothing wrong with keeping birds penned which is usually done for safety.
I don't think the OP is asking what we do, just if her ducks are missing out on certain aspects if not free ranged.

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

We all manage our poultry differently due to space, predators, etc.

@Sjh115 if I were you and you want the ducks to come out, then I would just open the run door and sit right outside of it. You could try some treats to entice your ducks, but I bet they will come nibble on you sooner or later. The next time, just move yourself farther away from the door, each time move farhter away. Eventually when you come to the run door, they will be eagerly waiting to be let out. Just make sure nothing is out of place like a hose or a watering can - mine freak out if they see something that wasn't there before.
What type of ducks do you have?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Oh I agree mine are only free ranged in a half acre fenced no way can mine be out with out fencing ,you right keeping them safe is upmost importance I am just saying for me I don't think I would have poultry if mine had to be penned 24/7 like I mentioned before. This is just me of course everyone has the right and freedom to do what they want with their birds. Having your poultry out with someone there to watch is the only way if your not totally fenced in and then there is still a chance of predation.