Looking for help/ideas to keep my ducks safe! I have 5 ducklings right now in my detached garage in a nice big pen. They are khaki cambells! I am new to parenting any type of bird and want to make sure these guys are safe! I am building a new home for them once they outgrow the pen. I have nice size pond in my backyard for them to play in. I have had them out on my lawn to get them used to the freedom but only under close watch. So I guess I'm looking for help on location of their new home! Should I make the coop on a raft and anchor it in the middle of the pond to keep safe from predators but still accessible as they please to come and go? And deal with the hassle of cleaning, Or should there home be on the dry maybe right close up to my garage? If so, how do I train them to get into their coop every night for lock up? I was hoping to let them have free range of my yard during the day but what is the procedure come dusk time!? Once they get into my pond they arnt going to wanna come out!! Also what size coop would you recommend, for my 5 ducks?? Thank you so much for any help! It is very appreciated!
I think a coop in the water you could pull ashore with a rope would be amazing!
Ive seen inflatable boats with duck houses on them but i awlays wondered about getting to it
My ducks seam to naturaly go home at night. If i scare them a little bit they run and scream for home
Ive seen inflatable boats with duck houses on them but i awlays wondered about getting to it
My ducks seam to naturaly go home at night. If i scare them a little bit they run and scream for home
AcampkevI have no experience with ducks but I came across your post and just wanted to mention that BYC has Topic of the Week discussions which I have found to be a great resource, informative and sometimes entertaining. There are some down the bottom of the page which are duck specific and this one might be of assistance:
Topic of the Week - Duck Housing
I have five Khakis but I do not have a pond, only pools, so take what I say with a grain of salt. I built a 12ft by 4ft screened run when they were little. I started out by walking them from the brooder in the garage to the screened run in return for thawed frozen peas. In the run was their pool and I let them play for several hours, gradually increasing the time. When it was time, I walked them back to the garage in exchange for meal worms. When they were older and it was time to be outside permanently, I attached a 4ft by 3ft house to the run (probably should have made it bigger) and moved them outside. Then, when I was home after work, I let them free range, but still called them back in with meal worms at night and locked them in their house. At about six months I started leaving their house door open to the screened run and only locked them in the run at night, they free range all day in my fenced yard. I say all this because I think you should build the run by your house and put them in at night if you want them to be around for very long. I have several students (I teach high school) who have had ducks with floating houses and they are constantly getting more to replace those lost. Fox are smart and ducks are not!
My ducks are currently waiting at the door to be put to bed and get their meal worms (they are two years old)! Hopefully someone with a pond will weigh in.
My ducks are currently waiting at the door to be put to bed and get their meal worms (they are two years old)! Hopefully someone with a pond will weigh in.
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This is great and awesome info! I thank you so much! They seem to like the frozen peas, and meal worms?? That was my next question! Your response was very helpful!
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- #6
Also very helpful! This website is fantastic!
I have no experience with ducks but I came across your post and just wanted to mention that BYC has Topic of the Week discussions which I have found to be a great resource, informative and sometimes entertaining. There are some down the bottom of the page which are duck specific and this one might be of assistance:
Topic of the Week - Duck Housing
Dried mealworms are duck crack!
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Okay great! I was looking for a snack they would love, they just seem super scared of me right now, will they always stay like this will the snack I give them help get them used to me?
I have read of many people feeding ducks in the evening routinely to encourage them to get out of the pond.
Once you find something that works, just do it over and over and over. Ducks are very routine and find any changes weird! My ducks will walk into their coop/shed at about sunset everyday without me- but ONLY if the light is on. If I forget to turn the light on they wait by the gate for me to walk them in and shut the door behind them.
I say an on-shore pond would be best, maybe you can affix a raft structure for them to relax on in the pond or as a secondary safety house incase one duck is being especially stubborn.
Let us know what you decide!!
Plenty of pictures too!!
Once you find something that works, just do it over and over and over. Ducks are very routine and find any changes weird! My ducks will walk into their coop/shed at about sunset everyday without me- but ONLY if the light is on. If I forget to turn the light on they wait by the gate for me to walk them in and shut the door behind them.
I say an on-shore pond would be best, maybe you can affix a raft structure for them to relax on in the pond or as a secondary safety house incase one duck is being especially stubborn.
Let us know what you decide!!
Plenty of pictures too!!
Food is a way to any animals heart. Just sit with them and let them get comfortable with your presence, then slowly start to interact more.
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