Runner duck environment

[Runnermadness]

I live on a large river an have some concerns about runner ducks on my property. Would I risk having them run off on a big body of water? I also have steps leading to the water. Are runner ducks good step climbers? I would like to put their coop on the lower level below the deck. You can see the 4 steps they would need to get to the water beside the pier. At my location the river is about 2 miles wide. All thoughts welcome!

 

[Miss Lydia]

I have a mountain river down below us and there is no way I'd let my ducks go down to it. Way too many predators including the ones that fly, we have Eagles and Hawks. My birds property is fenced in so they stay at home a large body of water like you have they would be drawn to it. I started out with Muscovy and I met them at the river, before I could bring them home 3 were picked off which only left 1, I did get him home before he was someone's dinner. I think if Runners had a mind to use those steps they would.
Mine are pretty agile.

 

[Callender Girl]

My runners were able to climb up and down the deck steps (before I gated it off to prevent generous gifts of droppings from the chickens). But they were far from graceful and often launched themselves (accidentally) off the top step. It might have gone better if the steps were wider.

I agree with everything @Miss Lydia says -- there are eagles and hawks here, too, as well as all the ground predators. I am far from athletic, but I can usually outrun and/or outmaneuver my runners, so a predator surely can, too.

The only time I lost a runner to a predator was when the ducks decided to go play in the old canoe in the back that was filled with rainwater. Hadley was taken by a mink that had previously killed chickens here. I would not risk letting them loose on the river.