Duck advice

[Unicornlife3316]

Hey y’all..

My husbands work has 9 ducks that live at the yard. It’s a truck yard so constantly moving vehicles and next to a major 4 lane highway. They’ve apparently lived there for several years but the man who has been feeding/caring for them has decided they need a better home.

And my bleeding heart husband has decided we have the perfect pond/home for them.

Problem is, I know NOTHING about ducks.

We have a large pond, an open air barn, a guinea coop and a chicken coop, which they can have free access to.

Should we build a floating duck house for a safe place to sleep on the water? We have predators - bobcats, coyotes, possum, raccoons.. basically anything other than bears, we have them.

Really.. any and all advice welcome.. because I want to give them the safest and best place to live so I need all the help I can get!

 

[Unicornlife3316]

There’s 2 adults and 7 babies.

 

[sourland]

I would recommend attaching a pen to a secure overnight coop. Keep them in this pen/coop for several weeks to acclimate them to their new home. Train them to feed with a call or rattling can so that you can call them from the pond every night. If you allow them to 'overnight' on the pond, a floating house/platform is a good idea, but realize they are still vulnerable to mink, otters, GHO and other predators. It is good that you are giving the city ducks a country home. Good luck with them.

 

[Unicornlife3316]

I would recommend attaching a pen to a secure overnight coop. Keep them in this pen/coop for several weeks to acclimate them to their new home. Train them to feed with a call or rattling can so that you can call them from the pond every night. If you allow them to 'overnight' on the pond, a floating house/platform is a good idea, but realize they are still vulnerable to mink, otters, GHO and other predators. It is good that you are giving the city ducks a country home. Good luck with them.

Ok that’s a good idea, didn’t think about an acclimation period like the chickens and guineas do too.

Will have to figure out a secure run and pen.

No mink that we know of and have never seen an otter here but know they’re on the rivers. Owls are definitely a big predator here so that’s a good one to remember as well.

Thank you!!

 

[Miss Lydia]

You never know what predators you have until you bring home dinner.