encouraging ducks to follow

[siobhan89]

Hi everyone,
I have recently bought a pair of mallards (3weeks old now, had them about a week and a half) i think boy and girl who were brilliant at following from day one but are now starting to test the boundaries i suppose?
It's mainly Charlie (the boy) who wanders off and doesn't want to come but Lola then follows him. I have to take them for walks as our gardens not the biggest and they love it when they go out.
I'm handling them twice a day and taking them out twice (over the park out) but does anoyone have any tips on how to get them to follow. The handling seems to be working for picking them up and im not getting scratched as much but they do still run when i try to pick them up, how can iu work on that?

Sorry for waffling and thanks in advance

 

[Kevin565]

. You could try motivating them to follow you by carrying treats with you.

 

[siobhan89]

What treats would be suitable for them at this age?

 

[Miss Lydia]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/242460/the-ultimate-list-of-duck-treats-and-supplements
I use dried meal worms when getting my flock to come when called, I get the mealworms put them in a plastic butter dish. start shaking the container and calling them and they all come running. If i was you I don't think I'd take them some place where you may have a hard time getting them back especially if it has water and then when they get their flight feathers. Going to a park you never know what might be there stray dogs or dogs off leash just to name a few. and

 

[siobhan89]

Hi Lydia, it's only the local park (literally across the road) and it's very open so i take them to the side where i can see all 3 entrances and be on predator watch with plenty of time to pick them up. (read that as chase them frantcially

)
I do worry about dogs but always try to be on guard and like i said the park is rather open so they can't just appear as such. I'm planning on clipping their wings once the flight feathers come through and i don't think i'd risk taking them to anywhere with water as i don't fancy trudging in to get them

Thanks for the link, thats a brilliant thread

 

[furbabymum]

as the proud owner of some unfortunately gifted hunters I have to second Lydia's sentiment. You've no idea how fast a viszla or weimeraner can run when encouraged by the sight of prey. Let's just say I lost a duck this weekend and I didn't even see it coming. Their even my dogs and I didn't see it coming. Freakishly fast how he got in there and grabbed it.

 

[Miss Lydia]

as the proud owner of some unfortunately gifted hunters I have to second Lydia's sentiment. You've no idea how fast a viszla or weimeraner can run when encouraged by the sight of prey. Let's just say I lost a duck this weekend and I didn't even see it coming. Their even my dogs and I didn't see it coming. Freakishly fast how he got in there and grabbed it.

I am so sorry to hear that. And I know first hand what you are saying and feeling right now.

 

[furbabymum]

I am so sorry to hear that. And I know first hand what you are saying and feeling right now.

I was very sad as it was my lone Welsh Harlequin he grabbed. I guess what they say about white being attracting is true. The only good thing about the entire thing is that out of 9 of my ducks 4 turned out to be boys. I was going to have to cull 2 of them but he grabbed one so now I just have to cull 1. Kind of took the blood off my hands I guess. The other good thing is the duck run is completely finished and I put a gate into the barn from it so I will NEVER have to open the door between the coop and the dog run ever again. That will really help eliminate these issues.

 

[siobhan89]

Oh no that's awful i'm so sorry.
Don't really know what else to do then as really my garden just is not big enough for them to have a good quality of life. Once they are fully grown i will be getting them some duck diapers and they can come in the house but even still i feel like they need lots of outdoor time.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Oh no that's awful i'm so sorry.
Don't really know what else to do then as really my garden just is not big enough for them to have a good quality of life. Once they are fully grown i will be getting them some duck diapers and they can come in the house but even still i feel like they need lots of outdoor time.

The most important thing is that they are safe. it doesn't have to be a large area for them to be happy. what size is your garden and your talking about mallards they are pretty small.