Duck holes

[SoonersDucks]

I understand that ducks forage for food and like to eat worms and bugs. How can I slow them down from digging so many holes in their enclosure. I know free ranging them would help... I am worried I couldn’t get them back in the enclosure at night suggestions?

 

[Gray Farms]

A thick layer of river rock will help.

 

[Miss Lydia]

What would their free range area consist of? Ducks herd great once they catch on to what your wanting them to do. Always feed them In their enclosure which will give them incentive to go in. And of course treats like mealworms always works here to get everyone back inside the fence I put meal worms In A container with a lid start shaking the can and whistling and they come running.

 

[SoonersDucks]

What would their free range area consist of? Ducks herd great once they catch on to what your wanting them to do. Always feed them In their enclosure which will give them incentive to go in. And of course treats like mealworms always works here to get everyone back inside the fence I put meal worms In A container with a lid start shaking the can and whistling and they come running.

My back yard. The problem is it is only fenced in with barbed wire and massively heavy foliage. I would fix that first. There are also horse stalls in the yard, but I do not think that will be an issue. I know I need to clip some wings, that is for sure! I am trying to get my ducks to come to me in the enclosure when I have food/treats. They still run to the other end.

 

[chickens really]

Let them out because they will not just take off at first. Definitely watch them and herd back into the pen a few times during their outside time. As far as holes go I just fill them back in..

 

[Mama_Owl_3]

What would their free range area consist of? Ducks herd great once they catch on to what your wanting them to do. Always feed them In their enclosure which will give them incentive to go in. And of course treats like mealworms always works here to get everyone back inside the fence I put meal worms In A container with a lid start shaking the can and whistling and they come running.

I haven't had a chance to do this myself just yet, but I have seen it in action. While visiting a friend, she is the owner of the parents of my ducklings, she got a container of meal worms, she shook it and they came running! It was like a miniature duck stampede, they couldn't get to her fast enough.

 

[Miss Lydia]

My gander will actually run over anyone In his way,everyone has learned to part when they see him coming. He also will step in buckets to get to his treats. I have to make sure nothing is out in the open.

 

[thumper650]

I recently got three ducks from the duck pound. They were super skittish and took me a half hour to corral them into my shed the first night, which was their temp housing.
Second night I, I went out early expecting a challenge. I decided it was still light so I’d just read on the porch shed for a bit. A few minutes later, they went marching into the shed on their own! I kept their food water and mealworms everywhere so they’d associate it with good things!

 

[thumper650]

Oh yeah, regarding holes, my Pekins drill constantly, I just fill the holes with my foot, and they re drill. Also if they’re in for an extended period, I leave a pile of straw. They’ll drill it for hours.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Since I have chickens who love to make craters for dust bathing, I guess I am use to drill holes I rarely notice. I also keep river rock [smooth round rocks ]around the drinking areas.