Ducks won't go to shelter?

[kjackson1992]

It seems this happens with every muscovy I have.

But we are in our rainy season here in Australia now and are due nonstop rain for the next week.

Our ducks have perfectly good shelter to go in to keep dry and warm, which is also where their food and water is. Yet they would prefer to stand out in the rain 24/7 which had already got most of them waterlogged with wet feather.

Will they be OK or do I need to intervene and just enclose them more into a covered area only?

 

[Miss Lydia]

If your weather is cool too then they do risk being chilled maybe try training them to go into their shelter. Herding can work and then reward for when they go inside. Start at night getting them in and reward and praise maybe once they realize how nice an dry and warm they feel it will make an impression. My Muscovys usually go inside before dark but when I first started with them we did herd them in every evening. Now they go in on their own. Wet feather like you said they get soaked clean through. When do yours molt here in the USA mine molt in late Fall and wet feather is over till the next year.

 

[chickens really]

I'd herd them in each night and out during the day. That gives them time to dry off each night. Feed and water outside of the house is fine till morning..

 

[kjackson1992]

Alright, perhaps I'll try putting their food somewhere else that will stay dry but placing a bowl of peas / green beans in the shelter for them to go to at night. They can't resist their greens!

 

[kjackson1992]

Doesn't seem to have worked. Those, idiots are still just standing in the rain. But they seem to be enjoying themselves. I'll just keep an eye on them for any signs of sickness just in case.

Were in Australia so it never really gets too cold, they should be fine right?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Well let’s hope so. Lol if they won’t get out they must not mind it.

 

[kjackson1992]

Yeah, they're pretty soaked through. But from what we can see our boys which are all white all have yellow streaks from where they're trying to put oil back on their feathers which is good

So they're obviously still producing (if not over producing) oil to try and sort the problem. Least there is no gland blockages!

 

[Miss Lydia]

My Muscovy’s stand around like lawn ornaments when it rains hard.