Duck Transportation

[Miss Lydia]

thank you, i will try these things!

with the treats - should i just place them down and stay in the pen, or leave them to it, or try and actually feed them?

ironically the one who is the most 'aggressive' (chases me when im leaving the pen as in 'get OUT!' - is also the bravest to come near when i'm in.

If you have earth worms which I imagine you do start by bringing out a digging tool, a shovel or something else and go around looking for earth worms, they love them and will soon associate you with something fun to do. I have 3 new ducklings 7 weeks old raised by a mama duck which means hands off for humans, so now that they are on their own, we have a ritual every eve. when I am out cleaning we look for worms. Also another thing they love is peas you can toss them in their pool or on the ground once they get the taste they will come back for more, Eventually they will eat out of your hand. These are the green English peas most of us buy frozen but if you get canned rinse all the sodium off before serving. I would imagine you can get dried meal worms in Glasgow, if you can another favorite sit quietly with them and toss a few then gradually toss them closer and closer to you, before you know it they will be eating out of your hand. you may never get them in your lap or be able to hold them where they feel comfortable, most water fowl don't like to be picked up, but you'll have the pleasure of their company and vise versa.. Make sure they can easily get in and out of the pool too.

Do you know the sexes of your ducks? because the one that chases you out of the pen sounds like a drake, I love my drakes, they can be a pain in the butt at times but I find them to be the easiest to hand feed first.

 

[llmjdd]

If you have earth worms which I imagine you do start by bringing out a digging tool, a shovel or something else and go around looking for earth worms, they love them and will soon associate you with something fun to do. I have 3 new ducklings 7 weeks old raised by a mama duck which means hands off for humans, so now that they are on their own, we have a ritual every eve. when I am out cleaning we look for worms. Also another thing they love is peas you can toss them in their pool or on the ground once they get the taste they will come back for more, Eventually they will eat out of your hand. These are the green English peas most of us buy frozen but if you get canned rinse all the sodium off before serving. I would imagine you can get dried meal worms in Glasgow, if you can another favorite sit quietly with them and toss a few then gradually toss them closer and closer to you, before you know it they will be eating out of your hand. you may never get them in your lap or be able to hold them where they feel comfortable, most water fowl don't like to be picked up, but you'll have the pleasure of their company and vise versa.. Make sure they can easily get in and out of the pool too.

Do you know the sexes of your ducks? because the one that chases you out of the pen sounds like a drake, I love my drakes, they can be a pain in the butt at times but I find them to be the easiest to hand feed first.

Thank you so much, this is of great great help, and so practical to do.
I will definitely start a worm hunting nightly ritual

The pekin is actually a female would you believe - I thought she was a male too, at first. But it turns out she is chief layer...and just chief of the pen it would appear...!! She's a wee madame to say the least! She has come up once and eaten out of the jam jar I was holding food in, whilst it was in my hand, so she will probably be the first to attempt it.
My concern is if she feels I am keeping the food from her (ie in my hands, not at her own decisive disposal!!) she might get 'pecky' at me, though?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Thank you so much, this is of great great help, and so practical to do.
I will definitely start a worm hunting nightly ritual

The pekin is actually a female would you believe - I thought she was a male too, at first. But it turns out she is chief layer...and just chief of the pen it would appear...!! She's a wee madame to say the least! She has come up once and eaten out of the jam jar I was holding food in, whilst it was in my hand, so she will probably be the first to attempt it.
My concern is if she feels I am keeping the food from her (ie in my hands, not at her own decisive disposal!!) she might get 'pecky' at me, though?

I feed my ducks out of my hand and have never had them on purpose peck me where it hurt. My dominant drake will come up to me and pull on my pants leg when i am handing out treats because he wants to eat them out of my hand. Are you keeping feed out for them during the daylight hours? if so them let them associate your jar/container as their treats and yes they may demand more than their share but she won't get violent about it. lol When I go inside to get treats I am usually surrounded by 43 members of my flock we walk up to semi flat ground{ I live in the mountains] and as I am walking I whistle so those that are foraging can know it's time for treats, they all come running. then I toss Dried mealworms / whole corn mixed together all over the ground to give everyone a fair chance at some goodies especially my 3 babies. Ducks are so much fun and a joy to have as it sounds like your finding out.

 

[thewhingnut]

Will using dog crates work for a 22 hr drive in October from CT to North AL? I'll have a camper on the truck as well I can even rig a warmer for them if need be. I'm moving a breeding pair to my dads to help with his bug and slug issues. But October is the only time I'm heading home. I don't trust planes.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Will using dog crates work for a 22 hr drive in October from CT to North AL? I'll have a camper on the truck as well I can even rig a warmer for them if need be. I'm moving a breeding pair to my dads to help with his bug and slug issues. But October is the only time I'm heading home. I don't trust planes.

I have used dog crates just fine, put something like old clean towels on the bottom to keep them from slipping around then you can take the towels out shake them out wash and reuse them. I wouldn't have food and water in the crates though just stop periodically and offer or they would probably have it all over the crate.

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

What if you put a rabbit water bottle in the crate? Can ducks use those? I ask bc we'll be moving about 8 hours away in the near future and I'm wanting to take my 2 ducks along with me

 

[Miss Lydia]

What if you put a rabbit water bottle in the crate? Can ducks use those? I ask bc we'll be moving about 8 hours away in the near future and I'm wanting to take my 2 ducks along with me

I'd start training them now, I know some use those nipples for their ducks/chickens so I would think they could but I wouldn't give food with these because they wouldn't have any way of wash their nares out. When training them always make sure to replace the water bucket so they can wash their faces.

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

Thank u
I was thinking I could stick the water bottle on the side of cage for the entire trip and provide them with a little food and their bucket when we stop during the drive.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Thank u

I was thinking I could stick the water bottle on the side of cage for the entire trip and provide them with a little food and their bucket when we stop during the drive.

Let us know how it goes.