How long to keep runner ducks locked up before free ranging?

[Crazy Maizie]

That's amazing! only once did I see one fly over our 4' fence but she was up on the hill behind the house . To be able to have lift off and fly over your fencing is really good for a Runner.

Yay for me. I feel she's going to be my mischievous one.

 

[Miss Lydia]

There’s always one in every crowd err flock.

 

[Callender Girl]

Sorry to hear about the one you lost; glad you could find replacements.

Most of my runners are confounded by 2-foot-fencing. Except my beautiful Claire. She was a snowy white beauty who could -- for several seconds -- soar over the fence AND a 4-foot-high chicken run. Her nickname was "Claire-borne." No one before or since has been able to reach the heights she did.

 

[Crazy Maizie]

Sorry to hear about the one you lost; glad you could find replacements.

Most of my runners are confounded by 2-foot-fencing. Except my beautiful Claire. She was a snowy white beauty who could -- for several seconds -- soar over the fence AND a 4-foot-high chicken run. Her nickname was "Claire-borne." No one before or since has been able to reach the heights she did.

Maybe once this one puts on weight she won't be able to get up and over? But, she will also have muscovy who do the same. I only trim their wings to break broodiness when they decide to brood in my chicken coop.

 

[Quatie]

I have 3 ft chicken wire that keeps all my ducks in. They have about an acre to explore. They can totally get over it if they choose to. Only my Muscovy have jumped the fence to lay an egg and would jump back. If they have enough room and lots of things to keep them entertained, I have not found they will jump the fence.

 

[Crazy Maizie]

I have 3 ft chicken wire that keeps all my ducks in. They have about an acre to explore. They can totally get over it if they choose to. Only my Muscovy have jumped the fence to lay an egg and would jump back. If they have enough room and lots of things to keep them entertained, I have not found they will jump the fence.

My muscovy usually are allowed to be out in the yard except when we've had predator issues. So, I leave the run open with the chicken side closed off using a length of the 4.5' welded wire - same stuff my runner flew over. My muscovy girls are always flying over it to lay eggs in the chicken coop. My problem with that is that they then want to brood in the chicken coop.
The runners are new and I already lost one - literally in the corn field. So, they have to be contained until they learn where home is. The one flew over because she was scared when I was in her space and ther was no other place for her to go as I was trying to fix the temporary set up that I had just placed them in to get more access out of the run area.

 

[Miss Lydia]

If you can get the plastic chicken fencing [Lowes] is where I found it and those thick plastic fence posts that you push into the ground they work really well for temp fencing I use them all over the place here. I don't believe one could fly over. What's nice about this is when you don't need it you pull it up and roll store for the next time.

 

[Callender Girl]

I've also used the plastic fencing. It's cheap and easy to move. The biggest downside is that rabbits and squirrels -- and there are plenty of both here -- chew holes through the plastic. Aside from those pesky wild critters, it's a pretty good solution.

 

[Crazy Maizie]

If you can get the plastic chicken fencing [Lowes] is where I found it and those thick plastic fence posts that you push into the ground they work really well for temp fencing I use them all over the place here. I don't believe one could fly over. What's nice about this is when you don't need it you pull it up and roll store for the next time.

How tall is it? I have fencing and I could put netting over it. I just didn't yesterday. I don't think she would have flown out if I had not needed to go inside the enclosure.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Yeah they get freaked out easily. I believe it’s 4’ too. Nope it’s only 3’ but TSC had taller thinking 5’ but I didn’t need that tall.