How Do You Protect Backyard Ducks from Predators? 6 Proven Tricks!

Ducks are entertaining to watch while roaming. They’re cute, can make good egg production, and can also be a reasonable est control. Won’t you want to save these beautiful waterbirds from being attacked by predators? I know you’ll say yes!

But how do you protect backyard ducks from predators? Make the enclosure secure with hardware cloth first, and do not forget to lock the door at night. Experts recommend using an electric fence for predator protection. However, making the fence high might be beneficial as it prevents more giant ground predators from hunting ducks. 

It’s easy to create predator protection for your ducks if you do it with love. This article will discuss how to ensure safety to the fullest, what not to do, and what other things are associated with the ducks and their predators. Just keep on reading!

6 Proven Tips on How to Protect My Ducks From Predators

To protect your ducks from predators, you have to follow proven techniques. Here’s my list of techniques: 

1. Secure Your Enclosures

Ducks should be kept in a coop or fenced area with a roof to prevent aerial predator attacks. In this place, a secured enclosure is the prime concern. I prefer hardware cloth with small openings to keep out digging animals. You have to maintain the enclosure well. Make sure the enclosure is sturdy. 

Predators cannot attack your ducks when the enclosure is sturdy and well-maintained. 

2. Night Time Lockup

Ducks are likely to be vulnerable while asleep, like many other animals. You have to make sure they are safely locked up in their coop at night. 

I suggest you use hardware cloth or wire mesh that is heavily gauged to prevent even smaller predators such as raccoons. 

In addition, automatic coop doors that are programmed can be considered as well. These doors will close at dusk and open at dawn. 

Suggested Reading: Do Ducks Go Back to the Coop at Night?

3. Motion Activated Lights and Alarms 

Using motion-activated lights and alarms would be an intelligent move for predator protection.  It will make the enclosure startle and will deter nocturnal predators. 

4. Keeping Some Guardian-Alike Animals

Some guardian animals can be kept to make your security a little harder. Doing so will serve you for several purposes. They can make good pets and can prevent predators for your ducks. Dogs and geese can be prime examples of this. 

Geese, for example, can be a good option as guardian animals. They’re mainly known for their aggressive behavior against predators. They’re very alert. The same goes for dogs as well. A well-trained dog can also serve as a formidable deterrent to predators.

5. Electric Fence

Electric fencing is also a very effective safety measurement. It is a highly effective way to keep ground predators at bay. What does an electric fence do? It delivers a non-lethal shock to the predators trying to break into it. 

However, experts often suggest burying the fence. Here’s how you can bury it underground: 

• Dig a trench along the perimeter of your fence. It will ensure no digging predators will come in here. In general, the depth might be around 2 feet. 
• Now, place the hardware cloth into the trench. Make sure it is flat on the ground. 
• Now, extend outward from the fence as you want to make a strong barrier for your ducks. So, make sure it is tightly connected to the main fence. 
• When the cloth is in place, fill the trench with rocks and soil. This will secure the cloth and camouflage it. As a result, predators won’t enter, even if they tried. 

Anyway, keep the fence taller. Because taller fences will keep the big troublemakers such as dogs, foxm wolves, and skunks away from the ducks. As these predators can’t jump or climb over the fence. 

Anyway, although only tall fences can’t help prevent all the predators cause there are small foes, such as cougars and bobcats, that can still enter the home. 

6. Prompt Action Against Holes

This thing might not be a popular idea. But it has a significant impact on your duck security. Some predators can be persistent. They may dig the soil for several days. If you find any hole, do not wait. Fill it with dirt and rocks immediately.  In addition, more wire mesh is needed to reinforce the ground in the troubled area.

Recommended article: How Much Space Do Ducks Required?

What Should be the Foraging Time for the Ducks? Morning is Safer!

The answer isn’t specific. It actually depends on you. You have to be very watchful about where your ducks are going to forage, what they’re doing at that time, and all that. However, still, let’s have a discussion regarding the matter. 

The safest foraging time for ducks is during the daytime. To be more particular, it is the morning and the late afternoon. Ducks are mostly known for their daylight activity. 

Why Daylight (Morning) Foraging is Safe for Ducks?

Morning foraging is safe because it reduces the risk of predator encounters. Many of the predators that are a threat to ducks are foxes, raccoons, and birds to be prey. These predators are all active in the night. 

Moreover, ducks are most active in the morning and late afternoon. During this period, they search for food, such as aquatic plants, insects, and small aquatic creatures. In organizational research, it is claimed that ducks are more vigilant in the late afternoon. So, it’s not the wrong time to forage.

Late Afternoon Foraging is Dangerous

Because in the late afternoon, the predators are here looking for food. Predators, such as the fox and the raccoons, become more active at that time of the day. On top of that, ducks also have reduced their visibility as the day goes on. Therefore, it gets harder to spot threats. 

Ducks might be more tired in the afternoon, and some duck species tend to rest near their nests. They weren’t vigilant at that time. So, they may be an easy hunt for a fox!

However, I’m not saying they’ve to forage only in the morning or altogether avoid to forage in the afternoon. It’s up to you when you allow them to roam. If you think you may have an eye on them in the afternoon better than the morning, let them roam in the late afternoon. 

3 Mistakes to Avoid While Creating Predator Protection

Some common mistakes we make while creating a safeguard for our ducks. I’m telling you one thing – please avoid making such mistakes. As a result, doing these may cost you a lot of money.

1. Skip Routine Inspection

That’s the most spontaneous and common mistake we make in general. You should keep in mind that even the safest protection can have bugs. Regularly checking the safety will surely give you a backhand. For example, you may find a hole that may be dug by a fox!

If you didn’t see this earlier, your ducks might be a fox’s dinner the next day, maybe!

Weak Materials aren’t Recommended

Cheap or flimsy materials aren’t a wise choice for safeguarding your ducks.  Do not buy cheap materials. Instead, invest in quality materials. These materials might cost you a lot, but they will give them the safety you want to ensure. A durable enclosure for your ducks will ensure no raccoons in the house!

2. Overlooking Aerial Threats

If you just think of the predators of the ground, you’re making a great mistake! The feathered predators can do even more damage sometimes! Suppose an eagle just brings one of the ducks in front of you. You have nothing to do but just look at it. 

Using netting or wire to cover the top of the safehouse will prevent aerial attacks. In easy words, build a rooftop for the enclosure. Be it with wires or just anything that can hold the weight of the aerial enemies of ducks. Ensure the rooftop is strong and there are no aerial attacks on your ducks.

3. No Leftover Foods, Please!

Ducks are messy, insanely messy. They’re messy eaters as well and can leave food and water here and there. Food scraps or unattended waters can attract predators. So, it is important to clean up the leftover food and water and store food securely. 

Recommended Reading: Useful Tips On Raising Ducks for Beginners

FAQs

Looking for more information on ducks and their predators? Have your eyes here!

Bottom Line

To ensure your duck’s safety, you have to be careful. Do make the duck enclosure strong. You may use programmed doors and electric fences as well to ensure top-class safety for them. Oh, one more thing: do not forget about the aerial enemies of ducks. Build a rooftop with something that is quite strong and can hold the weight of feathered predators at least. 

However, leftover foods can attract predators. Hence, no leftover food and water if you do not want your quacking friends to be predators dinner!

Sources and References:

• https://sora.unm.edu/sites/default/files/journals/wilson/v106n04/p0759-p0762.pdf
• https://www.wildlifecenter.org/problem-feeding-ducks