thank you all !!! im very excited . i just worry about having to go get them down at the pond - and my father in laws dogs that are down there - since theyd wander too far off i couldnt keep an eye on them. if they pretty much stay around " home base " even when free ranging then i think w a large enough kiddie pool ( i thought about getting fish once and awhile for a treat in it ?) a giant garden and a field to Muck up when it rains they should be pretty happy . we do live in the country so coyotes and foxes racoons and such are always a risk - ill have 15 barred rocks too but they'll all be shut up during the night safe from those . a hawk once got one of my Mother in laws Bantams - do they go for ducks & Large chickens tho ?
also since i plan to keep them in the chicken coop and they dont use nest boxes like the Rocks would lil basin bins or something on the floor work for them ?
and this may sound dumb but - when ya'll are gone all day say idk you go to the zoo that day or something idk - do you still let your duck / chickens out if they are free range or keep them in?
thank you
Mine wander a reasonable amount but yet always come to the main area that is where their feed/water is. I have horses so they go into the field with them, which is fine... actually safest spot. Depends on the size of the hawk, i do have them here BUT since my ducks are all Muscovy they don't seem to even bother... plus were a heavy crow area they chase them off too, that said i admit i don't free range my chickens for two reasons, one being my drakes and two the hawks there standard sized chickens but definitely not weighty like my ducks.
I don't put anything out for my ducks, there are little sheltered spots in their mini barn which some will lay in, heck i have a broody in one right now.. but i don't have proper nest boxes i find they make a little nest shape out of the bedding and lay.