Looking for as much advice as possible!

[Magnolia Ducks]

You can get cheap plastic poultry netting at tractor supply. I have lost my share of duckies to predators but only one ever to a hawk. The crows run them off and get some cracked corn for their efforts. You can order sexed ducklings from a hatchery to add to your flock.

 

[bluemerle]

Not me I am obligated to keeping my flock as safe as I can. Yes I have lost chickens to predators when they didn't stay inside their half acre fenced. Lost a roo inside of it protecting his flock. But I am not going to accept loss and hatch more like that. It makes me sad. When we take on animals, birds etc it's our responsibility to protect them as best we can. Even if you think of ducks poultry in general as live stock, They should still have protection from predators at least fencing can slow down one or stop them. We had bears tearing down our welded wire fencing so we had to put up no climb horse fencing so the bears haven't climb over yet and it's been 5 yrs.
Not trying to offend, but this is just how I feel about this.

We owe it to our animals to keep them safe to the best of our ability.

 

[Ratchnick]

Its important to remember that we have members from all over the world here, just because one person needs to keep their ducks completly enclosed in welded wire does not mean everyone does. Certainly its important to keep your flock safe but let's face it, life as a duck is pretty dangerous, and no matter what you do as their owner you can't ensure their compleate safety. Since this is the case you can only provide a measure of safety and depending on your location there are other ways to do that besides an enclosed run. Free ranging your ducks does not make you a bad person and letting your ducks out into a covered run is not free ranging.

 

[bhaugh]

If you have a lot of fowl consider getting a lgd. Then will be almost zero

 

[Miss Lydia]

Its important to remember that we have members from all over the world here, just because one person needs to keep their ducks completly enclosed in welded wire does not mean everyone does. Certainly its important to keep your flock safe but let's face it, life as a duck is pretty dangerous, and no matter what you do as their owner you can't ensure their compleate safety. Since this is the case you can only provide a measure of safety and depending on your location there are other ways to do that besides an enclosed run. Free ranging your ducks does not make you a bad person and letting your ducks out into a covered run is not free ranging.

. Like I said this is only my point of view with my flock.I have had ducks since 2004 I haven’t ever lost a duck or goose thank God!! I don’t have pens just fencing and coops we live surround by woods.

 

[Don 27]

. Like I said this is only my point of view with my flock.I have had ducks since 2004 I haven’t ever lost a duck or goose thank God!! I don’t have pens just fencing and coops we live surround by woods.

Time to buy a chan saw. Just kidding,
That's what I use...↑

 

[Miss Lydia]

We have a few. But we like our woods, just isn’t a safe place for our birds. Or my dogs we also have coyotes.

 

[Magnolia Ducks]

Its important to remember that we have members from all over the world here, just because one person needs to keep their ducks completly enclosed in welded wire does not mean everyone does. Certainly its important to keep your flock safe but let's face it, life as a duck is pretty dangerous, and no matter what you do as their owner you can't ensure their compleate safety. Since this is the case you can only provide a measure of safety and depending on your location there are other ways to do that besides an enclosed run. Free ranging your ducks does not make you a bad person and letting your ducks out into a covered run is not free ranging.

 

[Meg-in-MT]

Hello all,

New member here from northwest florida. I frequent Rural King very often and a few months back my children talked me into buying them ducklings. Well now the little ducklings are older and to my surprise one of them is a drake. I have researched as much as possible but I still have a few questions that I am really hoping to get some answers to.

First,I was not prepared for a drake. I have 3 ducks,I have read that drakes will litteraly mate a duck to death so do I need to get more ducks to avoid that or am I ok with 2 females? Also,now that they're getting distinguishable markings I'm assuming that means they are close to maturity. So I'm wondering when they actually mate and if they will mate this season,assuming that it hasn't passed. Thank you in advance for your responses.

A lot will depend on the personality of your drake. One drake and two ducks might be plenty fine. They are notoriously rude "mater's" but I've never had just one male. Going to be a watch and see and learn there, me thinks. Chickencanoe and misslydia definitely won't steer you wrong!

 

[Hidrainja4]

ABOUT PREDATORS I have snowy call ducks, two drakes a small flock of chickens. I am moving to an acre and a half. We have fenced in 42'x 75' area for chickens and ducks. We have planted a 14' row of raspberries and doing about the same amount of blueberries. They will serve as a windbreak, shade, hiding from birds of prey, and we will all share the fruit. I have dogs, Carina the Golden Retriever loves the chickens and prefers to spend her time sitting with them. Until the bushes are established we will put netting over the duck pool(are you ready?!) so they won't be sitting ducks. I don't leave them outside if an adult isn't going to be around in case. Predator security is in layers and diversity. Do you have a fence? a roof? camouflage? white birds are at a disadvantage. You can not kill/ trap every single raccoon, possum, fox, coyote that is out there. I lock my birds up at night with small padlocks on the doors. I have security lights on the coop at night because I think that discourages night time predators. Again,Think in layers and diversity. Should you loose a bird to predators correct the weakness in your system and immediately go out and buy two more birds to replace the one you lost. You need two so they have a friend and the pecking order won't be so brutal it will be divided. Confinement system is Ok however, they have no where to run or hide if the coop security is breached.