HOW DOES A DUCK DEFEND ITSELF

[BackyardAnita]

I'm getting ducks on Wednesday. My hen was killed by a hawk today

and that got me wondering, how will my ducks protect themselves, and/or will they be able to?

How do ducks protect themselves?

Would it be better for me to not clip my mallards wings (i'm getting a mallard, pekin, and a runner) so it can fly away?

And if my duck flies away from a hawk will the hawk be able to catch it and will the duck come back?

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

Quote: By hiding or escaping


Quote: The hawk might catch it, and it may or may not come back.
It's impossible to say one way or the other

 

[Mike Winters]

they are called ducks for a reason because that is about all they do when something is after them duck and cover.

and females can scream like a banshee if somethings after them but instantly shut up when caught

 

[AKnewbie]

they are called ducks for a reason because that is about all they do when something is after them duck and cover.

and females can scream like a banshee if somethings after them but instantly shut up when caught

That's pretty much what my ducks did when they were attacked by a gyrfalcon.
Although, the drake was valiant in defending his partner by flapping its wings on the falcons face while the falcon pinned our female duck to the ground. However, she (or both of them) would've been toast if I weren't home to chase the falcon away.

 

[Oregon Blues]

Ducks are prey animals and they are quite good at that.

 

[Chick1043]

I just lost and cayuga drake due to a hawk..Sad week

 

[ChristineR]

They don't effectively defend themselves. Refer to the idiom "sitting duck."

Idiom: Sitting duck

Definitions for 'Sitting duck'
A sitting duck is something or someone that is easy to criticise or target.