Free Range with no fence?

[DoodlesDuckies]

Morning. I have 9 ducks and 2 geese, 10 weeks old. Right now they are in an area- an oval with 200 feet of fence. I would like to allow them to wander the 5 acres we have but we are surrounded by farm fields. We do have tree lines to the east and west- south is all field, north is road. Will they actually wander that far? Especially if the fields will be corn or soy beans? If I keep pools/food under trees ect..will they generally stay in those areas? At night I plan to have them in their huts like usual for protection.

It is FINALLY drying up in our area and wouldn't think they would destroy the lawn of 5 acres???

Thoughts?

Renee

 

[LydiaB]

My ducks like to go to the alfalfa next door. We also have 5 acres. I don’t worry too much about it as I don’t think the neighbors mind the free pest control. I think they would stay on our land if their house wasn’t at the back of the property.
As far as ruining the lawn, I’ve never had any issues. Chickens dig up everything. Ducks are pretty good at leaving most vegetation.

 

[Miss Lydia]

What about predators?

 

[LydiaB]

What about predators?

I have livestock guardian dogs that keep things away.

 

[DoodlesDuckies]

What about predators?

I am a touch nervous about that. We do have other trees/bushes and such. The fenced area I have them in now has a lot of cover-trees, bushes ect..They spend a lot of time under giant the lilac bush, their pools are under giant trees we don't trim. BUT I always worry about the risk of something wandering through or flying in during the day.

 

[telandra2]

I have 3 acres, mostly unfenced, and my birds spend 98% of their time close to the house. Early spring is the biggest wanderlust temptation where geese just have to get at puddles across the street. After 3 years of escapes a homemade low wattle fence along the street (but otherwise still unfenced) has kept them contained unless something inspires flight. Second is ducks wandering off to hide eggs. Raccoons are my biggest predator, which is a problem when nest hiders dont come home at night.

My bulb and perennial garden is about 50ft to the side of the coop (not the common line of travel.) Ducks dig for worms, geese weeds. The geese have dug up new plantings. Last fall I bought sedum-like plants the ducks tail-wagging ate to the ground but it has returned and so far they've left it alone. I never need to mow the grass/meadow along their main travel route but it's only bare by the coop.