Free Range

[DuckDuck n Goose]

I am a new duck mom and have two peking ducks that are about 4 months old and even though they haven’t quite got all their adult featherS they are doing great outside. I have upgraded them from a inside to a small outside coop, then a small run and now I have them and their coop in a 10x20 covered run. I would like to let them free range during the day but am worried about the chicken hawks. These babies have gotten very big and fat and Seem bigger than hawks lol I was wondering If I would still need to worry about them. I would still put them up during the night since there’s plenty more f room but I feel like they need more area during the day.

 

[cheezenkwackers]

I let mine free range during the day but it is a risk. Hawks will kill a duck bigger than themselves. I would suggest trying it on weekends while you are monitoring them and then decide. I live in the middle of a subdivision and my ducks have a lot of plants/shrubs to hide under. I haven’t had any problems in four years. My next door neighbor has lost chickens though, so you never know.

 

[DuckDuck n Goose]

I let mine free range during the day but it is a risk. Hawks will kill a duck bigger than themselves. I would suggest trying it on weekends while you are monitoring them and then decide. I live in the middle of a subdivision and my ducks have a lot of plants/shrubs to hide under. I haven’t had any problems in four years. My next door neighbor has lost chickens though, so you never know.

Thank you. I’ll try it tomorrow. I just hope I can herd them back into their pen at night I’ve given them cuddles every evening since I’ve had them but they still run from me

 

[Yardfulla poopers]

Mine free range and have been since 8 weeks old. I do put them in at night. If they are like mine, they will take to sleeping right in front of the door you use most, so look forward to a poopy mess .
There is always risk with free ranging, but they are so happy and healthy.

 

[cheezenkwackers]

Thank you. I’ll try it tomorrow. I just hope I can herd them back into their pen at night I’ve given them cuddles every evening since I’ve had them but they still run from me

I throw mealworms in the pen, they all run in! You can also herd them just by walking behind them.

 

[pixielauren]

Four-month-old Pekins are probably too big for a hawk to pick up.

I have 15 chickens and 7 ducks. The chickens free range and we've had no issues with hawks -- but we do have two roosters who are pretty darned big and protective.

One of my ducks -- a muscovy -- is basically wild and he lives outside most of the year. He won't go in any coop ... not willingly anyway.

I just got six Pekin ducklings in August, so they are not free-ranging yet -- they are only maybe 2.5 months old so they are in a fenced area and they sleep in a coop at night. Even they are so big I am not too worried about hawks right now.

If yours are used to sleeping in their coop, I bet they'll go back to it at night on their own. In the beginning, they probably won't wander super far away from it. If you need to lure them there, hopefully treats or food would work -- or just walking behind them and driving them toward it.

Good luck!

 

[Beaglegal]

I also free range mine and take the risk. We had a few near misses with bald eagles. My drake was actually pinned at one point, I came out and the eagle flew off. He had some puncture wounds we had to treat but he recovered. But my ducks are happier free ranging so I take the risk