Duck Herding

[Goat_Walker]

When I first started out I would put them up as the sun started going down - I use a 15ft bamboo pole for my 22 ducks. Usually after they get in the hang of it they will actually start to put themselves away at night. My dog tries to herd them too... unsuccessfully.

 

[LittleSquidgenHome]

I just walk behind mine and slowly swing my arms back and forth and say " bed time, lets go". If I rush they scatter, but if I take a nice slow pace they know where to go. It took about 3 weeks till they learned the deal, and it is, in my experience, IMPOSSIBLE with ducklings under 15 weeks or so. My Ancona are happy to oblige every time without any stragglers. The Muscovy are a different story entirely. They take one step together and then scatter to the wind. For them I just go in the barn and make alot of racket with the feed cans, they run right in for a snack. It will be a bit of trial and error, but if you are patient and consistent, it will work out fine. Oh also! Ducks are creatures of habit, so think about the path you choose, it will be the same path most every night, and the ducks will fluster if you try and take them a different way. Best of luck.

 

[Goat_Walker]

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Usually as soon as mine are about three or so weeks old - as long as there are more than four - I or the dog can herd them whereever we want. It just takes a littl more patience lol

 

[L0rraine]

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Wow, if my rough collie were running like that, he'd probably get yelled at and the ducks would have collapsed from exhaustion. He just kind of gets bored watching them if they've been foraging in one spot for too long and he wanders over and moves them along. I should try to get a picture (or movie), but it's not very predictable. Though sometimes he'll move it up to a trot and I have to tell him that "that's enough!" and to "leave the ducks alone now", and he gets a little disgruntled and goes off to find something else to do.

I think the ducks in the video must be in REALLY good shape and it did look a little bit like they know they are part of the act.

 

[ohiofarmgirl]

i had no idea i could spent 45 mins watching youtube vids of duck herding...

 

[WriterofWords]

I don't herd them, my Blue Heeler Bella does. I tell the ducks "Go Night Night" and if they don't go on their own I tell Bella "Put them away" and she does. The few times I do it myself I just walk behind them and if they start turning right I move in to their line of vision and they straighten back out. My dog has taught me well!

 

[tia]

I know when I go out to sweep out the garage and they are out there. The minute I walk in with the broom they are startled. I try to sneak it in, but that is pretty hard with a broom. I can not sweep up close to where they are. I was taking some building material out there and got the same reaction. But if I go out with a bowl of food or something small they don't react. If they are laying down they remain down and I can slowly walk up to them.. I can see how a pole or something would be beneficial in herding them.

 

[Duck_feeder]

We trained Victor and Ming Mei to walk from their pen in one of the bedrooms to the bathtub. Initially we'd just carry them to the tub so they learned the route by watching. After that we let them try walking on their own. Whenever they went the wrong direction I'd block them off and give them a light push in the right direction. Now they wait impatiently for me to get them out of their pen so they can walk together to the bathroom (Ming Mei REFUSES to walk by herself. Victor will go off on his own by stop when he hears Ming Mei quacking for him). I'll run behind them saying, "Let's go! Go, go, go, go, GO!" and they'll run to the bathroom as fast as they can.

When we take them for walks (on leashes connected to their harnesses), sometimes they'll refuse to walk or go in a direction we don't want to go. So I'll show them a baggie full of peas, give them a couple each then jog away while shaking the bag. Victor chases the bag and Ming Mei chases Victor (She really hates being alone!)

 

[PlumTuckered]

I only had to herd my ducks the first couple of months, in fact I don't think it was even that long. I got behind the ducks and walked forward, if I wanted them to turn right I raised my left arm straight out to my side about waist high, vice versa if I wanted them to turn left. Now I just walk outside and holler c'mon Duck duck duck and they come running from the pond or pasture (whichever they are playing in at the time). If I get absent minded and am puttering around in the house come supper time the ducks come to the back of the house, stretch their necks up to look at the kitchen window and quack till I come outside...they've even got me trained LOL

Michelle