Is my gang safe to run free?

[DuCKS333]

Hi all,

7 weeks ago I hatched 2 Indian runners, 2 white goslings, 1 Muscovy and 1 brown duck that I have no idea of his breed.
I’m very lucky to have a ready fenced very large area for them to go in when ready, it has a stream that can swim and houses for them to be put into at night. The gang have been off their heat light for 2 weeks plus now and mostly fully feathered except the Muscovy. The Muscovy hatched 7 days later to the rest so is only 6 weeks old.

The brown duck has to be separated when unsupervised due to his feather biting habit (he’s been mental since birth) so he’s use to the weather in his own cage. They go outside 2-3 times a day, supervised by me and they now swim in the stream together aswell.
My question is- When is the right time to put them outside for good? At the moment they’re living in a stable so they are use to the weather (we’re in England but the weather is warm at the moment)
Predator wise we have it all, foxes, rats, crows, birds of prey and even a Herron that likes to sit by the stream.
When are they big enough not to be at risk to these predators? (Except the foxes of course) the Muscovy is the smallest, is she still at risk from big birds?

 

[Callender Girl]

Lovely birds, congrats on your hatch, and it looks like they have plenty of great places to play and are pretty friendly. In terms of physical readiness, I usually put my runner ducks outside full time when they're six weeks old, as long as the weather is cooperative.

I am ALWAYS leery of leaving them outside unsupervised, no matter their age. Real -- and probably unlikely -- predators are a constant concern for me.

Mine are free to wander during the day, but within a fenced perimeter that I can see from the house. It prevents them from wandering out into traffic (rural road runs along one side of the property) or back toward the barn (where a mink killed one of my original drakes).