When can the ducks go in the yard?

[NoahSully]

Hi, when can my two Blue Swedish Drakes go outside and not be in danger of hawks? They are 3 weeks right now.

 

[CayugaJana]

Where are you going to put them? Any protection? If they are free ranging, the answer is never unfortunately. I free range mine with a guard dog in my fenced yard.

 

[Magnolia Ducks]

Guard dog doesn't help much with Hawks. I would wait till 6 weeks but never is the correct answer. I have only lost one to a hawk in three years. Make sure they have some cover to run too. Mine are funny, they tilt there heads to watch the planes go over and run for cover.

 

[CayugaJana]

I know in my yard at least, the hawks don’t stick around as long as my lab is around. He annihilates anything that comes into his yard. And the hubs and I have sat on our covered deck and watched a pair of hawks this summer. They absolutely know when Rocky is outside. But I agree, there is no certainty that a hawk won’t swoop down and try. I think we’ve lucked out that we have plenty of trees where they can’t do a fast flyby. I have seen them try though.

 

[NoahSully]

So you guys are saying never not to put them outside? Or they just wont ever be 100% safe

Almost no animal is 100% safe outside. My dog could be attacked by a mountain lion, my chickens could be picked off by a hawk, my sheep could be attacked by a coyote...

I would just like to know when I can put them outside where a hawk won't instantly pick them off because there so small..

 

[Abraeri]

So you guys are saying never not to put them outside? Or they just wont ever be 100% safe

Almost no animal is 100% safe outside. My dog could be attacked by a mountain lion, my chickens could be picked off by a hawk, my sheep could be attacked by a coyote...

I would just like to know when I can put them outside where a hawk won't instantly pick them off because there so small..

From a very young age they know to run for cover. If you want to make sure the hawk can't just pick them up, I'd say wait until they have their adult coat of feathers. Supervised free ranging is possible at any age of course. One of my ducks was injured by a hawk, however at 2 years old it was too big for the hawk to carry off, and they ran for cover under a bush. She made a full recovery.

Here's my thread of her recovery: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/urgent-duck-attacked-by-hawk-wounded-on-head.1219634/

Just to prove it's never safe, there's never an age where they are completely immune.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Will they be in a protected pen with a cover over top or just outside to fend for themselves?

 

[chickens really]

Have lots of covered areas for them to hide. I have Calls and if a Hawk or even the Crows fly over mine Run for cover. Ground Birds keep their eye on the sky. Definitely don't worry too much. I only free range when I can be in and out to watch them. I worry more about Fox and Coyotes here.

 

[happy duck]

Mine stay in a run and go in a coop at night. They will soon be able to free range when I am out there for 1-2 hours. Your ducks should not go out till they are about 5-6 weeks. If they are going to be in a run or coop I would put them out at 4-5 weeks.

 

[CrystaBub]

I understand your concern. Hawks are my worst fear during the day (well, until I saw the coyote run through the yard one afternoon)! I agree with the posts about supervised free roaming for now. Eventually you'll start to see them looking up every time they see something in the sky. My ducks even tilt their heads to look at planes that I didn't even see - they have great predator instincts. Once they start doing that, I think you can let them venture farther away from you - but I have to admit that I never really let my ducks leave my sight... I just love them too much