pekinroundthecorner
In the Brooder
- Jan 29, 2021
- 8
- 59
- 33
Hi all! Long time lurker (I've come here to read about niacin, building my coop/ideas, etc) and first time poster!
Having some trouble! I own three Jumbo Pekin ducks - I've hand raised them since August. I owned ducks about 15 years ago, but it's been a while! I introduced food to them twice a day with a distinct call since little, and they would come running. (Inside the house in the brooder, then inside in larger brooder, then transferred outside to a coop attached to a run). Eventually, I started letting them out of the run a bit each day to forage/roam, as they would come when I called them (aka I tried to free-range).
I live on a large, private lake with two other houses far away and woods surrounding. They never strayed farther than about 30 ft, and would come at dusk & put them in the coop/run for the night. I live in Northeast USA. This was our routine all of December->Jan.
Well about three weeks ago something changed, and they just simply decided they didn't want to come in! The next day I walked down to the lake, did the call, and had food in my hand to coax them. Was able to easily catch two.
TLDR: HOW DO I CATCH A DUCK!
The last one remains totally uncatchable. I've tried a net, sitting there for a long time while she tried to approach me (but she won't get close enough ever since the first day), tried with two people and herding her when she came up on land near the coop. But now she's scared I think, and any time she sees me she absolutely takes off onto the acres-large lake.
What can I do? I need to catch her! She's mingling with a bunch of wild ducks now and I'm worried about disease transmission etc. At my wit's end. I've read the below thread and would get out on the boat but it's icy here and can't totally breakthrough with my little boat.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/how-to-catch-a-duck.869427/
Help! My partner thinks I should just let her live - (he says - "she's fine! those poor cooped up ducks!"...they have so much room) but I can't morally do that as an owner/she's a pet! I don't have the money to hire someone to - tranquilize? - I don't even know if that's possible.
Any other ideas? Thanks so much y'all. Happy to be here (besides this ahah)
Having some trouble! I own three Jumbo Pekin ducks - I've hand raised them since August. I owned ducks about 15 years ago, but it's been a while! I introduced food to them twice a day with a distinct call since little, and they would come running. (Inside the house in the brooder, then inside in larger brooder, then transferred outside to a coop attached to a run). Eventually, I started letting them out of the run a bit each day to forage/roam, as they would come when I called them (aka I tried to free-range).
I live on a large, private lake with two other houses far away and woods surrounding. They never strayed farther than about 30 ft, and would come at dusk & put them in the coop/run for the night. I live in Northeast USA. This was our routine all of December->Jan.
Well about three weeks ago something changed, and they just simply decided they didn't want to come in! The next day I walked down to the lake, did the call, and had food in my hand to coax them. Was able to easily catch two.
TLDR: HOW DO I CATCH A DUCK!
The last one remains totally uncatchable. I've tried a net, sitting there for a long time while she tried to approach me (but she won't get close enough ever since the first day), tried with two people and herding her when she came up on land near the coop. But now she's scared I think, and any time she sees me she absolutely takes off onto the acres-large lake.
What can I do? I need to catch her! She's mingling with a bunch of wild ducks now and I'm worried about disease transmission etc. At my wit's end. I've read the below thread and would get out on the boat but it's icy here and can't totally breakthrough with my little boat.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/how-to-catch-a-duck.869427/
Help! My partner thinks I should just let her live - (he says - "she's fine! those poor cooped up ducks!"...they have so much room) but I can't morally do that as an owner/she's a pet! I don't have the money to hire someone to - tranquilize? - I don't even know if that's possible.
Any other ideas? Thanks so much y'all. Happy to be here (besides this ahah)
Last edited:
@reluctant, I haven't thought of a live trap - good idea!
Tried last night and tonight (but going to try again in about an hour) - our lake has frozen over (getting a big storm here in next few days) - she’s in the stream, tried to sneak approach on land but she heard me. Now she’s been resting where I would have to wade/swim and don’t think that’ll work... might try to coax with food but she takes about 20-30 min to come up, not sure I can last that long in cold but gonna try!
