A list of Duck toys & activities

[Loopeend]

I couldn't find one, and it might be nice for in the sticky topic
Could you guys help?
Please also add if it is safe for ducklings as well.
Checking my grammar also welcome.

Just like humans, ducks can get bored.
A healthy duck needs a healthy mental state.
Giving ducks things to do where they have to use their brain helps to keep them in tip-top shape.
A duckling with a trained brain will be a smarter adult duck. Brains need to be stimulated to grow.
It can be little things; putting something new in their pen everyday to investigate.
Or it can be toys and activities!

Duck toys & activities.

Treatball. 8 weeks and older.
Many pet stores have plastic treat balls for rodents. If you buy the one with an adjustable hole you can use it with a variety of snacks.

The hose. 8 weeks and older.
Some ducks really like to be watered down with a hose with a soft spray function, and will even eat the water out of the air like a dog. The soft spray is the key here; they don't like to be hosed down as if they were aggresive protesters/soccer hooligans.

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

I don't know about a toy persay, but I set up a waterer just like this
How it works is that you fill it up, then put it on a brick to keep the water level high. If you don't have the lid on tight enough, the water will flow out and create overflow which makes water spilled on the ground. Instant duck enjoyment!
Then, once you figure out that you have to tighten the lid so tight you need assistance to unscrew it, it will work as stated in the blog http://frankiemakes.blogspot.com/2012/06/watering-solution-for-ducks.html
However, one of my ducks has figured out that she can make a game of it and she bills the water out to empty the container. She thinks she is so funny!
Needless to say the waterer lasts me one day, but I am getting a daily bicep workout.

Other than that, I add a suet feeder with different fruits and veggies. It is metal so won't degrade like plastic will and I imagine easier access than the ball mentioned?
I have Muscovies and they like to climb - so added bricks, cinder blocks, and tree stumps which I change around so they have variety. They also like to perch on top of their feeder. I had to put a kibosh on that as they tipped it over - so placed some big rocks on top to prevent them from perching (hopefully).
I am also going to work on training them just for fun. Started last night training them to get up on top of the cinder block and back down (with treats and cues).

 

[Loopeend]

Other than that, I add a suet feeder with different fruits and veggies. It is metal so won't degrade like plastic will and I imagine easier access than the ball mentioned?

I have heard that metal is bad for the beaks. I don't know how much of this is true, but i have been living by it now for quite some time. Maybe someone can answer this?

Do you have tips on what to look out for when placing rocks and logs in the pen?

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

The suet feeder is coated, so I wouldn't see the harm in it. As well my ducks and chickens are surrounded by metal fencing. I know they shouldn't eat metal as it will build up and become toxic in their bodies.

Just place rocks and logs anywhere. I have one placed off to the side and one in the middle of the run. Then, I change it around so that it is "different". We cut wood, so we have the trunks cut into chunks. I would offer different sizes for variety. As well if you have muscovy, a tree branch would work too.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Better be careful @Soon2BChixMom if you teach them too many tricks they may run off and join the circus

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

Maybe teaching them commands is better terminology - up, in, bed time... those are the tricks they are learning.
Two of them recognize their name. I think the other two don't as much because I can barely tell them apart.

 

[Miss Lydia]

My drake def knows his name and I think a few of the girls but it's usually Opie I talk to the most using his name because I am saying Opie why are you so mean to Sammy or Opie what did you pull the chickens tail feathers out or Opie you sure can be a pain in the butt. lol

 

[Farm Yard Fun]

I have heard that metal is bad for the beaks. I don't know how much of this is true, but I have been living by it now for quite some time. Maybe someone can answer this?

Do you have tips on what to look out for when placing rocks and logs in the pen?

I would be kinda careful with putting bricks and rocks in the pen with your ducks just because my ducks don't really look where they are going and sometimes trip on the bricks around their pool. They never seem to get hurt, but I feel kinda sorry for them.
My ducks do LOVE romaine lettuce! They like to eat it from my fingers and sometimes nibble them. Something I might try is getting a container of live earthworms from a local bait shop and dumping them in a shallow tub of dirt. They will love digging around in it and searching for the worms!!

 

[TSOWOATNKC]

We put food in their pools to dive for. Peas are a favorite.

 

[Jase The Butcher]

I put rocks on the bottom, and all my ducks swam for them.