Bored ducks?

[Dynasty and Delta]

Hello, my two ducks seem to be getting a little bored with their routinely life. I usually take them out their pin in the morning and let them swim, forage, and play with me and toys. But, recently they have been coming to my patio and just standing there like they want to do something else. I try and take them on walks in my neighborhood, but they are always to scared to leave my yard. So, are my ducks bored? If they're bored any suggestions to keep them entertained?

 

[neo71665]

They are imprinted on you. You are lead duck and they are trying to see what you are doing and/or follow you.

 

[Dynasty and Delta]

They are imprinted on you. You are lead duck and they are trying to see what you are doing and/or follow you.

That would make sense, because I did hatch them as eggs.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I'd be leary of taking them out of their safe space into your neighborhood with dogs etc that could be a disaster. As long as they can forage and swim they shoudn't get bored. Since you only have the 2 why not buy them one of those chicken treat balls fill it with mealworms and let them roll it all over. My ducklings loved the treat ball. I just don't have level ground outside for mine to play with one.

 

[fatty and friends]

if you want to take them places, we use a stroller for walks and bins when they are in the car! that makes it way easier to take them anyway, and once you get to where you going you can let them walk around

 

[Dynasty and Delta]

Thank you all for yalls nice and helpful responses. My ducks are already very happy, but from what I have read ducks like bells and mirrors. I plan to buy them a little parrot bell and mirror to put in their pin so they aren't bored while I am at school. I am also going to buy that treat ball so they can be entertained for a while with that. Now the final thing I will be doing is taking them to a nice big open field to forage and by that field is a small man made River they can swim in. It is only about 2 feet deep and about 7 feet across so I can just walk in the water with them, I also can monitor them easily. The best part is there is no other birds living at the small river so I don't have to worry about them getting diseases from wild birds. I will be taking them there once a week for an hour. Do yall think this is a good idea or do yall think they will run away?

Picture of river

 

[Miss Lydia]

You know you ducks better than us as far as running away or floating away.

 

[Dynasty and Delta]

You know you ducks better than us as far as running away or floating away.

Yeah let's just say my ducks have a bad track record of running off, but I have thought of a solution for that. Recently on the internet I have seen leashes for birds and I thought I could buy two for my ducks. That way they can stay close, safe, and not run off.

 

[CoriM]

Have you tried treats? My ducks will come anywhere with me for peas or mealworms, and it might be an easy way to keep them in your reach on the creek. Might be much more fun than leashes. I try to move my ducks around a bit between their run, foraging, and their grassy tractor. I know that the younger they are, the more easily bored and energetic they are. The older they get, the more content they are to not move around so much. I would hesitate to take them for walks - depends so much on the surface their feet are on - rocks and concrete can be too hard and cause bumbles. Keeping them on grass and soft surfaces as much as possible is great. When I put my ducks in their portable "tractor" on the lawn often sprinkle mealworms all around on the grass and they spend a lot of time hunting them down. Also, since you only have two, you might consider getting a few more next spring so they have company. The rough part about two is that if lose one, the other one will be devastated, and ducks have so many potential health issues, it's very possible.

 

[Dynasty and Delta]

Have you tried treats? My ducks will come anywhere with me for peas or mealworms, and it might be an easy way to keep them in your reach on the creek. Might be much more fun than leashes. I try to move my ducks around a bit between their run, foraging, and their grassy tractor. I know that the younger they are, the more easily bored and energetic they are. The older they get, the more content they are to not move around so much. I would hesitate to take them for walks - depends so much on the surface their feet are on - rocks and concrete can be too hard and cause bumbles. Keeping them on grass and soft surfaces as much as possible is great. When I put my ducks in their portable "tractor" on the lawn often sprinkle mealworms all around on the grass and they spend a lot of time hunting them down. Also, since you only have two, you might consider getting a few more next spring so they have company. The rough part about two is that if lose one, the other one will be devastated, and ducks have so many potential health issues, it's very possible.

This sounds like a good idea. Maybe in a few months I could buy one or two more ducks around their age. When I take them to the creek the first two or three times I will use leashes, but when they get used to the creek I might start using treats to keep them close. I think taking them to the creek will be a great way for them to exercise, play, and explore since ducks love exploring.