When can the ducks go in the yard?

[Skye'sDucks]

Like some were saying, for hawk protection, you could stick them in a covered pen for a little while before they get too big to be carried off. Or, if they're able to be put into a fenced yard with plenty of coverage, that could work, too.

A hawk grabbed three of my ducklings when they were only a couple of weeks old, and I put them into our smaller backyard where there's lots of tree coverage and plenty of bushes. The hawk never got any more once they got bigger.

Of course, they'll always be in danger of a hawk. But as long as they have cover, yours should be fine. There's been a hawk that's been hanging around lately and not one of my ducks have been killed. It's just a risk you'll have to take with free ranging.

 

[SkyeT]

We have a community hawk pair that patrols and lays eggs here. This year, their nest was literally next door to me, which worried me when we got our ducks. I was reassured that as long as the hawk doesn't have a "runway" to swoop down and grab and go, my ducks were going to be okay. Between the trees, the lantana bush (4 feet high), our new fig trees, and the house, they had plenty of hiding spaces. They also had a pen to stay in while we were away from the house that had netting over the top.

I did catch the male sitting in one of our trees one morning, looking at the pen. But, he couldn't get to them. They circled our house for days, but they could not figure out how to get our ducks, even when the ducks were free ranging our yard.

Long story short--- bushes, trees and no runway will usually thwart the hawks.

 

[NoahSully]

Their pond is in the barnyard with the sheep and there is a big barn with one side open for them to run into. They also have access to a 3 acre pasture which is very open but there are a lot of trees and bushes on the edges of the pasture. I'll just keep them in their covered pen until they get their feathers.

I appreciate all the feedback

 

[happy duck]

Their pond is in the barnyard with the sheep and there is a big barn with one side open for them to run into. They also have access to a 3 acre pasture which is very open but there are a lot of trees and bushes on the edges of the pasture. I'll just keep them in their covered pen until they get their feathers.

I appreciate all the feedback

Sounds like a good plan! Now you know we can't talk about ducks when we don't now what they look like....I think we need to see a picture!

 

[NoahSully]

 

[CrystaBub]

Ohhh I want to squeeze them til their eyes pop out - ok not really - just until they squirm their way out of my arms

 

[NoahSully]

~Day 4

 

[CrystaBub]

View attachment 1499848 ~Day 4

 

[NoahSully]

The yellow one is Oscar and the darker one is Smalls. Wherever Oscar walks, he immediately lays down. Not sure if hes just lazy or hes too heavy for his legs

 

[shawluvsbirds]

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

I am always amazed at the extraordinary eyesight my ducks have. I'm sure I look like a crazy person out in the yard . . When their eyes go to the sky I'm up and out there looking up too . many times the bird or plane or whatever it is is so far away I can't even believe they would've seen it. Sometimes I never even figure out what their looking at and I think they are just playing a joke on me