Whether you’re preparing to welcome ducks onto your farm for the first time or you’re interested in purchasing a new duck breed, fencing is something you’re probably considering.
So, you might be wondering—can domesticated ducks fly?
Some domesticated ducks can fly, while others are incapable of it. In this guide, we’ll break down the must-know details to help you keep your domesticated ducks safely in your yard.
What Types of Ducks Can Fly?
Domesticated ducks that can’t fly are more common than those that can. However, if you have any of the following ducks, you’ll need to make special arrangements to keep them safely in their pen:
- Domesticated Mallards
- Call ducks
- Muscovy ducks
- Runner ducks
The common trait in all these ducks is their smaller size, which enables them to fly.
Whereas domesticated Mallards and Call ducks can fly quite well, if you own Runner ducks, they won’t be able to fly for far or long.
Why Some Domesticated Duck Breeds Don’t Fly
Many domesticated duck species don’t fly because breeders bred flight out of them. Pekins, Rouens, and Cayugas are examples of ducks that can’t fly.
The inability to fly is a common trait among meat ducks; they’re heavy birds, so their weight makes it impossible for them to get off the ground.
How High Can Domesticated Ducks Fly?
If you own a flying duck breed, they can flee their coop, flying as high as 500 to 4,000 feet.
Therefore, it’s critical that you either clip their wings or keep them in a large pen with a roof to avoid them flying away.
If you’re afraid of how high ducks can jump after you’ve clipped their wings, don’t worry. Ducks aren’t jumpers, so you don’t have to worry about building a high fence.
At most, a duck can jump a couple of feet off the ground. The smaller the duck, the greater the chance of jumping higher since its weight won’t hold it down.
To stay on the safe side, we recommend building a fence that’s four feet high for your ducks. Not only will that guarantee that your ducks can’t jump over it, but the height will also help deter predators.
Free-Roaming Ducks
Most domesticated ducks can’t fly (and many owners clip the wings of ducks who can). So, you might want to give your ducks free range of your land.
There’s no doubt about it—your ducks will love you for letting them roam around.
Assuming you feed them well and offer them a stress-free environment, there’s a low risk that your ducks will wander off and never come back.
However, predators are something you need to keep an eye out for. Although many duck predators like red foxes and coyotes are nocturnal, your ducks aren’t safe during the day either; hunting birds in the corvid family can snatch up small ducks.
Therefore, we recommend always locking up your ducks in a predator-proof pen at night. It’s also a good idea to only let your ducks roam free when you can monitor them.
Ducklings and Flight
Ducklings are adorable, but they can also be mischievous and make great dinners for hawks and other predators lurking around your yard.
So, how do you know when it’s okay to let your ducklings outside for the first time, and when do they no longer need you to monitor them?
When your ducklings reach three to five weeks old, it’s okay to introduce them to the outside world, provided that you remain with them to ward off predators. It also allows you to monitor their comfort since they get cold quickly until their feathers are fully grown at seven to nine weeks old.
That said, provided the temperature isn’t below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, and you keep them locked in a pen at night, it’s safe to let your ducklings outside without you needing to monitor them after their four-week birthday.
Benefits of Letting Ducklings Outside
- It more closely mimics their natural environment
- They have more freedom to socialize with other ducks
- They build up better tolerance for weather fluctuations
Dangers of Letting Ducklings Outside
- They’re a target for predators
- They can get cold until their feathers grow in
Final Thoughts
Understanding the duck breed you own or plan on purchasing is vital to know how to manage their flying habits (or lack thereof).
More likely than not, your domesticated ducks won’t fly.
However, if you have a flying duck breed, you can ensure they don’t fly away from your property by either clipping their wings or keeping them in a spacious, covered pen.