Bored Ducks?

[SunAngel]

I am wondering what others might have in their duck runs to keep their ducks occupied?

Maybe a silly question, but I just recently split a section of my chicken run off to keep the ducks separate and I am worried they are bored.

They have a little duck pond to play in, but the rest of the run is just sand/dirt. They have a duck house to run into if they want, but compared to the chickens run, theirs is empty.

Any ideas what I could add to make things more intersting in there for them. I can only provide so many treats before I have 50lb ducks lol. Or is that pretty much all ducks do, eat, swim and sleep?

 

[dixygirl]

I collect tall grass, weeds and thin branches with leaves each morning for them to play with. Between that, swimming, running around and resting, they are fine.

 

[SunAngel]

I did put some grass in the pen this morning before letting them out, but that didnt last too long, they are piggies lol.

 

[LV426]

When I mow the lawn I make a pile of grass clippings and they go through it and spread it all over. You might try that. I have free range ducks during the day and they spend the whole day foraging so giving them things to forage under like piles of grass, weeds, and leaves can be entertainment. I also will toss in some superworms or meal worms for them in the piles and they will usually sift through and find and eat them.

 

[chickenzoo]

I want to plant some tall grasses etc for mine to play with, just use the post hole digger and plop it in container and all to see how long a big one might last. i made the mistake with my pheasants and planted small ones - they ate it all....

Also WAL carried a dog ball that you can put treats in and as it rolls around it despensis the treats, wondering if that would work on ducks....my piggies love it.

 

[Wildsky]

They really don't need to be ocupied 24/7. Mine free-range with the chickens and that seems to keep them busy enough - I often see them sleeping under the apple trees, trying to jump to get apple tree leaves, or just following people or chickens around.

 

[nannychachi]

My 4 Anconas are let out of their pen everyday for a good while to come sit in the shade with us. They run through the yard, play in their waterer, make a mud mess around it, pick at whatever is on the ground and then nap. It was hot today so I had a spray bottle with water that I sprayed over them to keep them cool since they were away from their pool. I also hung a dog toy made up of three small interlocking hard rubber rings in their pen, but I haven't seen anyone playing with it yet.

 

[Adalida]

I give mine time-consuming treats. For example, watermelon rinds or whole cabbage leaves. It keeps them occupied but doesn't really give them a ton of food, but they love picking at it.

 

[Cherib603]

I drop a head of red or greenleaf lettuce in their pool. They LOVE tearing it apart.