Any One Else Having Trouble Getting Ducks To Go To Bed Tonight????

[pirtykitty]

My 3 ducks normally don't give me any trouble about coming to bed ( going into their pedator proof night pen) . I got them in about 5;00 but Ellie the mag pie was fussing so much I let them out again.. 7;30 tried to get them in again got her in but she came back out whe the other two didn't follow.. They're all out there right now around the rubbermaid tubs and Ellie is giving Stanley the come Hither call.. both head bobbing etc..
When we got the 5+ inches of rain a few days ago they were going at it like rabbits the whole day until the water finaly drained off the drive..
I'm hoping they will get it out of their system tonight and get back to normal tomorrow night..

 

[toadbriar]

I blame the moon!

 

[newbyduckmom]

Mine have been that way for the last week and a half. Even when it is pitch black dark, they don't want to go in.

 

[pirtykitty]

Gotta be something with the weather or hormones.... I had to let them stay out last night.. I cracked window so I could hear... I could hear Ellie making her low grunty noises so I knew they were ahmem you know. LOL.. She isn't as loud today when she's moving around.. This evening I guess I'll give it another try... I thought it was going to rain last night it tried about 1;30 last night..
Should start having an easier time once it starts getting dark around 6;00 oclock..
I have been putting them up most of the time around 5 except when we had the really hot temperatures.. They just get a wild feather every so often and its a pain.. LOL.. Little Stinkers... Ellie is too smart for her own good.. She insta
gates some of this stuff....

I even thought they might go in around 10 last night but nope they wondered all around the ramp and disscused etc and then out the gate they went..

 

[Sassy1967]

The last time mine did that, I found out that a predator had been in and around the pen. The ducks WOULD NOT go back into their pen at night. Eventually, I lured them in there and left them for a couple of days to show them that everything was ok. I've not had a problem since. Although, my Mallard hen is laying eggs in our garden at the moment and I know that when she's done, I won't be able to put her up. I'm working on a solution for that right now. Good luck with yours!

 

[iajewel]

My ducks have a dog, so predators aren't an issue, however they have been very awake, for lack of better words lately. I don't sleep more then a few hours at a time and the pen is right out side the back door. I will get up and go pet the dog, look around and go back to bed. Lately yes, the ducks have not been sleeping, they have been active. I don't know if its weather? I need to mark it on the calendar and see if this time next year they do the same thing?

 

[Sassy1967]

I wonder if it's the change in the weather. Some of these ducks are migratory and it's in their nature to seek warmer climates. But, in respect to that,..my Mallard hen is in the process of laying eggs. So, I really don't know what to think. I'm new at this and am still learning. That's a great idea to mark it on the calendar. It may come in handy!

 

[bluep]

i had trouble tonight i have never locked them in .but i lost 2 ducklings to a rat over the last few nites so deiced to lock them in till they get a bit bigger

 

[iajewel]

Rodents are hard on birds. May I suggest you add a few Muscovy to your flock. They eat mice, small rats, etc. They will hunt them down like raptors and gobble them up. I have one worthless cat, and a flock of Muscovy. Since the ducks, I have NO and I mean NONE.. Nada.. no rodents.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Quote:
We found a couple of mice hiding in our shed that we keep our rakes and stuff in now I keep the door open during the day so the muscovies can get a sanck when they want one.