I want happy ducks but I want to be responsible... thoughts?

[HeatherMo]

We don’t have many predators but would like advice from those in a similar environments. It’s so hard to know what is reasonable and responsible because most chicken/duck owners have horror stories. Yet free rangers still free range knowing there are risks. I’m not free ranging. I live on a farm, all open field and crop around here without much of a water source and rarely see much wildlife. We have a Mexican family across the street and they have a ton of chickens, goats etc. I asked them if they have had issues with predators killing their birds. A bit of a language barrier but he looked a little confused, said no and said they had a hawk grab a bird a year ago but no problems other than that. I lock my hens in at night, they are easy though and put themselves to bed. I have 2 Rouens they are 2 months old living in a tall run, pic here. I lock them in a dog kennel I used to use for my puppy every night (under the blue tarp in this pic). I know they would be happier having free range all night in the run. Is there anyone out there in a similar situation that had done this with success? There are always risks but I don’t want to take stupid risks.

 

[Texag87]

No matter where you live, the risk to your ducks go up at night.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Ducks sleep...predators know this.
I lost ducks to owls way back when I lived in farm country.
I would lock them up no matter what.

By the way there aren't any pics of your set up showing.

 

[HeatherMo]

Ducks sleep...predators know this.
I lost ducks to owls way back when I lived in farm country.
I would lock them up no matter what.

By the way there aren't any pics of your set up showing.

 

[HeatherMo]

 

[21hens-incharge]

pictures!!

Ok that makes things a lot clearer!

That puppy crate is in no way predator proof.
Can you build them a solid sided low to the ground duck house?

I would at least add netting over the tall kennel?

One thing my days in the country thought me.....the only thing tastier to predators than chickens are ducks.

 

[Cyprus]

I locked my bantam cockerel in a puppy crate at night inside a cattle panel hoop coop for months. He lived.

 

[HeatherMo]

pictures!!

Ok that makes things a lot clearer!

That puppy crate is in no way predator proof.
Can you build them a solid sided low to the ground duck house?

I would at least add netting over the tall kennel?

One thing my days in the country thought me.....the only thing tastier to predators than chickens are ducks.

Everyone keeps saying that but I can’t figure out why! It’s locked up, my kids have a hard time opening (me too sometimes!) there is less than a half inch opening. How the heck do those nasty predators get in there? Examples!

 

[21hens-incharge]

I locked my bantam cockerel in a puppy crate at night inside a cattle panel hoop coop for months. He lived.

Key difference....hoop means wire all across the top. OP has an open top.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Everyone keeps saying that but I can’t figure out why! It’s locked up, my kids have a hard time opening (me too sometimes!) there is less than a half inch opening. How the heck do those nasty predators get in there? Examples!

Prying at door corners.....reaching through mesh(coon classic technique)....tip and crush crate to create gaps.

Just not sturdy against predators.