Can ducks range free around the yard all day?

i am in a rural area, my ducks do fine, their too large for hawks, i worry about coyotes and bobcats, but i have a good dog

Predators will take ducks and hens in the daytime. I had a fox take our cockerel in broad daylight once. I live in rural Ireland and there are mink around too.

We have 3 dogs now so I think their scent keeps the fox away but if we let our ducks & hens out in the daytime in the garden (1/2 acre) I make sure that we keep an eye out for foxes, especially when the cubs are born, the foxes seem more daring then when they have hungry mouths to feed.

All the birds are kept in a secure shed overnight.

The people down the road from us do (rural area too). They do have things that look like tv antennas but made out of boards all around the property and I have seen the ducks hanging around up there. They aren't very tall just enough for the ducks to get too.

There may be predators during the daylight that need to be fenced out of your yard. Sturdy fencing comes in 330 foot rolls and the rectangle openings get larger toward the top. It will make a secure yard. You will still close them in a secure coop at night as raccoons will climb over the fence.

Lost 150 ducks in one year ! An owl and occasional hawk would get some, but I finally caught a bobcat with one in his mouth, taking the last 4 in one night. There is also coyote to consider...

my daughter the zoology student says most predators are out at night however,she said a penned up area would be good in the day because foxes and coyotes wander all day.

Not necessarily. Dogs or possible large cats can kill ducks. Other than that, if you have a variety that can't fly such as the white pekin ducks, yes they can roam around all day.

As long as you don't live next to the Interstate, you should be alright.