Should I let my ducks free range?

[Callduckmaster_12]

Hi all,

I have a pair of call ducks, they have been with me for about a month of so. They do not have clipped or pinioned wings. And I do not currently let them free range I am worried they are going to fly away what is everyone’s thoughts? TIA

 

[Jpat]

there gonna fly away

 

[Miss Lydia]

X2!

 

[chickens really]

I raise Calls and never clip wings. Mine have never flew away..you can clip them and I only free range when supervised.

 

[Callduckmaster_12]

Thanks every one

 

[sylviethecochin]

Do you have a pond? They'll likely stick around if you do; even our mallards don't leave. Even the two wild (EDT: So I think. The boys just flew in one day.) mallard drakes our ducks have adopted don't leave. But when I was a kid, the neighbors had a trio of Pekins on their pondless property, and...well, within a few weeks, we had a trio of pekins.

 

[Miss Lydia]

They do like water lol

 

[Duck Hill]

My ducks had a large duck house for the night and were offered free range during the day. I thought my ducks were stupid. They would not go out in the grass and would not forage. They spend the entire day hiding under chairs, sleeping rather than walking around. Then a neighbor lost a duck to a hawk. I realized they were smart - they were hiding!

I added a covered pen to their duck house. They were SO happy. They seemed to understand right away, because they played outside even when the hawk was nearby.

My ducks have made their choice - they prefer the safety of the pen to free-range freedom. And if I put them outside, they forage for about two minutes max, and then make a beeline for the house/pen and ask to go in.