Ducks Hate Water

[gatrapper]

Hey Y'all,

My wife and I have been raising ducks for the past 4-5 years. We have always raised Pekins for meat and have never had a problem with them not loving the water.

This year we picked up some Cayugas and Indian Runners just to have around the yard. We have had them in the water since the day we got them and they have always went nuts when swimming. As they grew older we would take them down to our creek each day and they would swim for at least an hour. They have been outside for a month now and they free range all over, but they will not visit the creek. We will gently heard them down to the creek and they will avoid it like the plague.

They do go crazy in their water bowl.

What is up?

 

[FluffTheDuck]

There might be something “scary” in it like a trash bag. Inspect the creek for anything like that. That’s all I can think of.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Snapping turtles?

 

[Magnolia Ducks]

Maybe you have snapping turtles in the creek. If my guys sense a predator all fun is out.

 

[FluffTheDuck]

Ah yes that’s probably it

 

[gatrapper]

The creek is a shallow mountain creek. There are some tiny fish in there. I have never seen a turtle or other water predator.

 

[Miss Lydia]

We live in the mountains of NC and didn’t think we had snapping turtles in the river and creeks around here but we do. Not saying that is what it is but something has them spooked.

 

[PirateGirl]

They may not feel the Creek is safe anymore. They may have seen a predator there in the past or sense another animal there now.