Ducks Afraid of Pond

[KaLo]

I have a pair of 6 week old Pekins. They have been raised in a fenced yard and a duck house with a little swimming pool. We also have a large pond outside of the fenced yard. They are fully feathered now so I decided to take them out of the fence and introduce them to the pond. They want absolutely no part of it. I tried gently placing them in the pond on several occasions and they react like I have stuck them in boiling oil. I even tried tossing some cheerios in but no go. They just run to the gate to get back in the yard.

The only place they have to "swim" is a small pool in their pen about the size of a large kitchen sink. They happily go in it and bang into each other trying to dive. I would have thought they would just love the big pond. Is this normal? Any suggestions to get them to go in the pond? Maybe they are just part chicken - haha!

 

[Miss Lydia]

I have a pair of 6 week old Pekins. They have been raised in a fenced yard and a duck house with a little swimming pool. We also have a large pond outside of the fenced yard. They are fully feathered now so I decided to take them out of the fence and introduce them to the pond. They want absolutely no part of it. I tried gently placing them in the pond on several occasions and they react like I have stuck them in boiling oil. I even tried tossing some cheerios in but no go. They just run to the gate to get back in the yard.

The only place they have to "swim" is a small pool in their pen about the size of a large kitchen sink. They happily go in it and bang into each other trying to dive. I would have thought they would just love the big pond. Is this normal? Any suggestions to get them to go in the pond? Maybe they are just part chicken - haha!

All kinds of scary things under the water and it is breed into them to be to be leary of things they are not familiar with, and with good reason, Snapping turtles love to eat and bite off parts of ducklings, large mouth bass like to eat ducklings too. Snakes are really scary not only to ducks but to me too, so taking all of than into account I think it's a lil easier to under how they feel. I'd try buying them a bigger kiddy pool I found one for 15.00 and I can probably fit all 13 of my Scovy's in there they may not be able to swim but they'd probably all fit.

 

[KaLo]

So are you saying they will never go in the pond?

I have seen Pekin, Muscovy and other domesticated ducks in other ponds in my area. We have a lot of wild ducks and geese on our pond. There were none out there when I tried because I didn't want to scare my two. It is very shallow and clear along the edge with a lot of minnows. Would be able to see any snakes or turtles. I think they are too big for bass.

I can't see myself maintaining a kiddie pool for them for potentially 20 years. I guess I'll just keep walking them out there until they decide to give it a try.

 

[Miss Lydia]

So are you saying they will never go in the pond?

I have seen Pekin, Muscovy and other domesticated ducks in other ponds in my area. We have a lot of wild ducks and geese on our pond. There were none out there when I tried because I didn't want to scare my two. It is very shallow and clear along the edge with a lot of minnows. Would be able to see any snakes or turtles. I think they are too big for bass.

I can't see myself maintaining a kiddie pool for them for potentially 20 years. I guess I'll just keep walking them out there until they decide to give it a try.

No I'm not saying that they will never go into the pond, but wanted to give you some reason why they may be scared too, and also get you to see there are dangers under water the same as above. so maybe you will be on the look out for these types of preds. Maybe if you wade out into the pond a bit they will follow you. You have to remember even at 6 weeks and they look like adults they are still young and have depended on you so they will follow your lead,. you go in and maybe they will follow, { if mama says it okay to]