Ducks are scared of pond

[Here Chicky]

i raised 4 Ancona ducks with chickens and turkeys. They are 3 months old and I just separated them and have them in a pen on the edge of our pond. They are scared to death to go near the water. I don’t have turtles or other prey. They had a plastic kiddie pool that they loved so I thought they would take right to the real thing. I even cut the bottom out of it and placed it in the water thinking they might get in that. Nope. I have physically taken them out in the water but as soon as their feet touch they get to shore as fast as they can. What do I do?

 

[wvchickenchick311]

Omg your ducks are beautiful.
I am having the same problem,but it was because my duck got attacked by a snapping turtle and it tore his webbing a couple months ago. They all are extremely scared of it.
I would check for turtles somehow because that’s not normal for a duck

 

[Here Chicky]

Omg your ducks are beautiful.
I am having the same problem,but it was because my duck got attacked by a snapping turtle and it tore his webbing a couple months ago. They all are extremely scared of it.
I would check for turtles somehow because that’s not normal for a duck

I don’t think my ducks would know a turtle if they saw one. They have not been on the water but just a couple of days. When I moved them down there they were terrified of the edge of the water. We have a very small pond. I think it may be because I raised in my chickens and turkeys that maybe they don’t know their ducks. They did not have a mama to teach them how to swim. I’m guessing. But I don’t now!

 

[wvchickenchick311]

I raised mine with chickens and this is our pond...ours isn’t very big either. Mine had me as a mother they are 1year now and my girl
Is sitting on eggs right at this moment and the boys hate the pond. A lot.

 

[Here Chicky]

It just really surprises me. I figured they would want to be out there.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Being scared is only natural this is huge compared to the kiddy pool. and ducks don't take well to change and being prey to so many predators they are naturally cautious. It will take a while but hopefully one will get brave enough to go in and the rest will follow. And your right some is learned some is instinct with these birds. A lot is instinct. How can you be sure there aren't any snapping turtles in your pond?

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

Beautiful ducks! I love Anconas!
They are just scared because the whole situation is new to them. Give them some time and you will curse the day you moved them there: "C'mon duckies get off the pool, it is time to get locked up in the house for the night…" - and they will just ignore you!
My ducks are always scared of everything new, but there is no duck that could withstand the call of the water. I left my wheelbarrow outside last night, my ducks think that it is a duck-doomsday-machine and run whenever i use it. Yet it rained over night and it was full of water and the cheekiest ducks used the opportunity and took a bath in it.
You can also throw some meal-worms (aka. Duck-Crack) in the water and watch…

 

[katiebrock]

i raised 4 Ancona ducks with chickens and turkeys. They are 3 months old and I just separated them and have them in a pen on the edge of our pond. They are scared to death to go near the water. I don’t have turtles or other prey. They had a plastic kiddie pool that they loved so I thought they would take right to the real thing. I even cut the bottom out of it and placed it in the water thinking they might get in that. Nope. I have physically taken them out in the water but as soon as their feet touch they get to shore as fast as they can. What do I do?

You could try throwing mealworms out there. That is how I got my boys to finally get in the lake for the first time. It took a lot of patience, and now they love it!

 

[slippednfell]

My four ducks also didn't want anything to do with the pond initially. I think it was just overwhelming to them. Took a couple weeks and now they seem to enjoy it through out the day.

 

[Nathalie]

Here's in idea. Maybe you need to show them the way by diving in yourself? They see you as their mama, and mama always leads the way, right?

I had the same problem with a duckling that I had raised inside the house. She also hated the water. She was fine as long as she felt a steady ground underneath her feet, but once I raised the water level there was no way in hell that she wanted to go in. No, Ma'am! Nu-uh! So I bought a small inflatable kiddy pool, filled it up and sat my butt in it. And low and behold, she was jumping up and down in an effort to get in too. And yep, surely enough when I picked her up and gently placed her into the water she immediately felt comfortable. Threw in a few mealworms and before I knew it she was diving and splashing around. I stayed in there with her for about 10 minutes, and she had no problem playing in the water by herself since then.