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Gamebird7
03-23-2009, 04:56 PM
Hey all,

Do any of you have experience with allowing your full-winged calls to free range? Do they stick around? I have mallards and they stay and I just hatched 10 snowy calls and I was just wondering if they will stay or not.

Thanks for any help,

Chad
cchoate
03-23-2009, 05:52 PM
They will stick around but you will loose them to predators unless they are in some type of enclosure. Hawks, raccoons, fox, mink, cats, owls by land, snapping turtles, large fish in water. The term "sitting ducks" was coined for Calls.
Gamebird7
03-24-2009, 10:40 AM
Thanks for the info, we have coons, possum, hawks, and owls so I probably won't let them range.
Evy
03-24-2009, 11:37 AM
I agree with Chris. You can let them have some ''lawn time'' , just don't leave them alone for any length of time. The grass & exercise is good for them, especially if they're in a small pen.
goosedragon
03-24-2009, 02:12 PM
They will stick around but you will loose them to predators unless they are in some type of enclosure. Hawks, raccoons, fox, mink, cats, owls by land, snapping turtles, large fish in water. The term "sitting ducks" was coined for Calls. Actually Calls were produced to call flying ducks down to shotgun level. It is generally considered unsportmanlike to shoot sitting ducks :wink: ~gd
7961
03-24-2009, 03:37 PM
I definitely would not reccommend letting call ducks free range. They would make too easy a free meal. Mine are entirely enclosed and I will still see the occasional hawk sitting on the enclosure. Enjoy them.
cchoate
03-24-2009, 05:17 PM
Actually Calls were produced to call flying ducks down to shotgun level. It is generally considered unsportmanlike to shoot sitting ducks

Tell that to the 25lb snapper I shot in my pond last year while enjoying a goose dinner. :wink:
goosedragon
03-24-2009, 06:22 PM
Who was eating goose? you or the snapper? BTW I just received email with pictures of two eagles,attacking a duck on a body of water, every time one swopped down the duck would dive. next the two birds started attacking each other until one fell in the water, eagles aren't very waterproof! ~gd
bethanysbantams
03-31-2009, 01:31 PM
Ours are allowed to free range. They stay in our yard, but they go up and down the creek. They like our yard because there is a stream and a small pond. :)



Bethany :)
Evy
03-31-2009, 02:36 PM
Ours are allowed to free range. They stay in our yard, but they go up and down the creek. They like our yard because there is a stream and a small pond. :)



Bethany :)

Let us know how many survive the summer. I had mine in a similar situation when I started many years ago. Mink, owls, hawks, coons, dogs, cats & snapping turtles convinced me otherwise.
bethanysbantams
04-02-2009, 08:59 PM
Ours are allowed to free range. They stay in our yard, but they go up and down the creek. They like our yard because there is a stream and a small pond. :)



Bethany :)

I should have said we let them free range for a couple hours in the morning while we are out doing chores.
Before we had good quality ducks, they were out all the time and many dissapeared.

Bethany
luvmycalls
05-13-2009, 11:18 AM
Mine free range for about 12 hours a day. I have over 25 calls, with a large amount of other ducks and geese. I have a large pond and a creek. I have never lost a bird to a preditor while they were out. I let them out at about 7 am, and they all wonder down to the water. When I come back at night I open the barn door and they all go into their pens. Never been a problem.