Roosting muscovies

rhanily

Hatching
Oct 17, 2015
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I'm new to ducks. I have 3 female lavender Muscovies who won't go into duck house ( within electric pen) They roost. In Very high Trees or rooftops. Now they are roosting on my neighbours roof. I've tried training to food and they come in mornings but not in evenings. How do I train them not to roost. Guessing I can't so, should I clip their wings but then if they still won't go into duck house foxy will eventually get to them. Any advice??? Neighbours won't tolerate duck droppings on roof for long! It's funny now but won't be once a big mess appears!
Also when they lay (still too young to) where will they do so if they aren't used to a house?!
 
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In addition the house who's roof they choose has 24hr lighting for the stables next to it..... Is it possible they like the light/feel safer?
 
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In addition the house who's roof they choose has 24hr lighting for the stables next to it..... Is it possible they like the light/feel safer?

@rhanily Welcome to BYC. you might want to clip there one wing on each duck then keep in side of the electric fence until you have taught them where home is. they may not like it but they are not as smart as we are and don't realize the dangers they face by staying out all night and your right the neighbors will not like what they see after they have been on their roof for a while so today start by feeding them only close to their house [and inside the electric fence] when they go in close the gate so you have them inside. Next one at a time trim only one wing and you'll need to do this correctly or they will still be able to fly I'll get you the diagram after I finish, Once you get each wing clipped I'd leave them inside for at least a week. This way they will get to realize this is where they are to sleep and lay [about laying mineMuscovy] usually don't start laying till around 8-9 months old so I have plenty of time to teach them where the best place is for laying you might want to make a lean to inside their house which is just a piece of ply wood leaned against a wall with nice bedding inside they love privacy so this may get them to thinking this is a great place to lay attach securely to the wall so it doesn't fall on them. When they get close to laying if you can find some fake ceramic eggs to put into the nest that will also help. Some use golf balls I know it works for chickens not sure if it will for ducks but worth a try.
Okay back to training to go into house of an evening. Once they have been inside their fenced area for the day go inside and slowly begin to herd them towards the door to their house if it's a large area you might want help or use a long pole some just open their arms and use them to herd them where you want them to go. After they go in you can offer them a treat. It usually doesn't take them long to learn what your asking. Our ducks need our protection , so even though they may like the idea of roosting in trees or roof tops they are endanger of flying preds at night large owls day time hawks and eagles. I think one reason why they have chosen your neighbors roof is the lightening not for security but because the lightening bring in the bugs at night mainly moths. which is one of their special snacks.

LL
 
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Hi. Thanks for replying. I have locked them in when they arrived and they spend all day in the fenced area, go in and out of their house for food but just before dusk they roost on the neighbours house. Roosting is all they seem to want to do. I've tried leaving them hungry to see if they'll come down but they just won't budge. IF I can catch them I could clip they're wing but then I'm worried they'll just sit in the pen and that'll be too tempting for fox. Their house is a large dog kennel see photo so locking them in for more than a couple of days seems harsh.... Since they already know it's where the food is they just choose not to sleep in there.........
That's where my mind is now. Perhaps if I clip they're wing I'll be able to herd them in as you say until they get a pattern......
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I'll let you know how I get on!
 

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