Do you free range your ducks? Why or Why not?

[Swamp]

Quote:
Chicken tractors are a good solution, RavenStorm. However, in my case if I don't let the muscovies out of their run during the day, they will lit literally climb the wire walls, and shake the cage apart. They want access to the pond.

The lady who sold them to me told me that these muscovies will get depressed if penned up for long periods. They are semi-wild.

 

[starryeyes]

I have 5 rouen ducks they are about a yr old I got them 3 mons ago. At first they would freak if we got to close never charge or anything just quack and run in circles. I started giving them spinach leaves in the morning not much and after a month they were eating out of my hands. They are in a 15 x 15 area in the yard with a house. Which sits in a totaly fenced in huge area, what i found with my girls is if they get free run of the whole yard they dont lay there eggs that day. And since i want there eggs for the bator. What I do is after 10 am and I have there eggs I let them have the whole yard by bed time I go ck on them and they are in there house I shut gate to the main yard and waite till morning egg collection to let them out. They love the yard and way less poop in there area now plus they eat the bugs its a win win situation.


Starry

 

[ChickenToes]

I would love to free range my ducks. My DH and I are trying to figure out a way to free range them, either by fencing in part of the yard or building them a chicken tractor.

 

[LoveMyBirds]

Quote:
My Cayugas were on the wild side last year when I raised them and was a little leary of letting them out, but I tried it and it worked out ok..

I free range all my birds.. For the ducks I have a large pond in front of my house about 55-70 yards. The duck house/pen is behind the house..

 

[sparkles2307]

My cousin and his partner live in Portland OR and they have two ducks right in town in thier back yard that free range and then go to the pen at night. Tey have an antique claw-foot tub for a pond lol. Dwight and Luanne, they are a riot

 

[dixygirl]

enclose the entire back yard with elertrical wire like this

 

[Sweetfolly]

I got my ducks when they were about 7 months old, and they were NOT tame. Free-ranging just isn't practical in the wooded area I live in - my Campbells, Hookbills, and Runners are small enough that the hawks would decimate my flock in a matter of days. Thus, my ducks have a net-covered run, about 13' X 25' with a kiddie pool. Occasionally, the hawks do sit on the edge of the yard and watch them, but they haven't tried to plunge through the netting yet.

Anyways, for the first week or so I had to go inside the run and usher the ducks into their more secure nighttime pen in the evenings (have I mentioned our teeming raccoon population?), but after that they began waiting for me at about 6 o'clock every evening, and all I have to do is open the gate and they walk right inside - although they still aren't tame and won't let me touch them

One of my ducks did manage to escape from the run once (we're still trying to figure out how she did it), but she was waiting by the gate at 6 o'clock when I went to put them to bed! So, in short, you CAN train not-so-tame ducks to come home at night. They're creatures of habit.

 

[LoveMyBirds]

Quote:
Got a fox story for you.. When I was a kid.. (Wow.. that was long time ago..) I had a pet red fox.. After it was about 1/2 grown, I'd turn it lose and my rabbit dog.. (a beagle).. The beagle would chase the fox around the house.. the fox was so fast that it would catch up with the dog and pass it... Funny to watch them.

Anyway why I wrote this.. We had a 5-6 foot fence out back and that little fox jumped that fence,, then turned around a sat down and watch the beagle bark on the other side of fence...

If it is a fox.. I'm wondering if your fence will keep it out..

 

[One Acre Wonder Farm]

I just read in another post that a fox can jump 6-8'! Who knew?? That is astounding

 

[dixygirl]

Maybe the electrical strands will have to be backed by 7 foot high deer netting too if foxes can jump that high

Ugh! Its getting harder and harder to protect a flock from nature.