Do your ducks put themselves in at night POLL

[thedoors5to1]

my ducks have always put themselves in the run around dusk. if its cold they go into thier coop that has a towel door, they just walk up the ramp, and bill thier way through the curtain. its cute.

 

[rainplace]

I find that with any new ducks, I have to herd them for a few nights but eventually they put themselves to bed with everyone else.

Our two newest ones that we got as two day olds, now make a racket at the back door so they can get in the basement to jump up into the rabbit hutch I have them in at night. I herded them for about week once I started letting them outside.

The first ducks I had I corralled at night to teach them the ropes. After about a week, I've never had to do much of anything other than clap my hands and say bedtime. Yes, there is the runner who has to get that last drink of water, the drake that gets chased out when he tries to go in, and my fav goose who has to check and goose everyone who comes in after her, but the entire affair is over and done within 5 minutes. 5 minutes for 28 waterfowl is pretty good I think. If I don't get out there before dark, they put themselves in. It's only happened a few times, but I was amazed that they didn't need me

 

[chicken5]

I put my muscovies in with my chickens when they were small. They just started following the chickens in at night. Now that they are older, they stay out later than the chickens, but still go in on their own at night.

 

[PlumTuckered]

My Pekins spend all day on the pond, sometimes taking a trip or two to the backyard looking for goodies. I only had to herd them the first week that they started going to the pond. Every day around 3:00 pm they come waddling up to their pen. They stand in the pen and holler for me, I go out and make sure they still have feed in their dishes and of course to get some ducky snuggles. I return to the duck pen at 5:30 and as soon as they see me they waddle into their dog crates and I shut the doors for the night. I've had one gal eaten by a possum a week ago so I don't let them run about free in their pen at night anymore, their pen walls are 6 feet tall and they did great for 10 months. We went and bought more chicken wire and hardware cloth so we can cover the top of their huge pen. I wish we had done it sooner :-(

Michelle

 

[duckluck]

If someone just opens the barn door at night, they're right there and ready to come in for the night! I think they know that as soon as the sun sets, the owls start coming out...

 

[pips&peeps]

Only when it's below 25 degrees, they want in.......

 

[Kittymomma]

Quote:
Hi Nifty,
Could you add another category? Mine (only two) put themselves to bed MOST of the time. I've noticed though that the chickens are ready for bed an hour or more before the ducks. If I go to lock the coop up at dusk I have to tromp down to the lower (very wet) field and herd the ducks up, but If I lock up an hour or so after dark they are all tucked in with the chickens.

 

[Soccer Mom]

Mine were in the category of little kids who were super sleepy and really wanted to sleep but had to fight it anyway because the big kids were up. If that makes any sense.

They would go up to the coop and mill around, but wouldn't make a move until I herded them to the ramp. As soon as one started, the rest followed. So I guess my answer is "sort of." But they never did it without prompting from me.

My geese sleep out on the pond, but my ducks never did. I'm getting new ducks this spring. We'll see how these do.

 

[chicachic]

I started as an accidental owner of pekins years ago. They never went away..they travelled to my neighbors yard and slept under under their porch. My mallard mixes, though, have always gone into their shed by themselves. Earlier in the winter..later when the weather is nice. My chickens live with them now so they have seperate quarters and they always go into their own section!

 

[Laney]

You're supposed to put ducks in at night? We raised the ducks until they were fully feathered, then we taught them to use the pond (bringing them back to the pasture every night) until they were comfortable enough to run to the water every time they got scared and then left them to it.

Our ducks live on the pond. We provide no shelter and only a little feed in the AM for them. Am I a bad Duck Mom? I just thought they were supposed to live like wild ducks, and they seem to like it a lot? We have a 1 acre pond and 11 ducks Mixed males and females.

Laney