Experiences with ducks and streams

[EdgeofAsheville]

Sometimes on a rare day they return to land (or the pen) by themselves, but I never count on it. Waterfowl just love water. If there is a day when I know that we won't be able to herd them out of the stream before dusk (due our schedule or the water being too high for us to safely walk in it) then we don't let them free range that day. Even in cold weather, they still love to swim, so on those days we wear hip waders to herd them out of the stream. You can increase their cooperation by consistently feeding them the bigger meal of the day when they return, and by having a consistent routine as to the times of day when you let them out and bring them back. But it's not foolproof. Getting ducks out of the stream and into their pen is kind of like getting kids off of a playground and into the car. They rarely initiate it themselves. At least that's my experience. Your ducks are beautiful btw.

Thank you! I appreciate your response, it’s encouraging. I’m happy to continue corralling them back home after a swim. It’s just so fun to see them enjoying the stream and all it’s natural treats. We’ve put up a little mesh fence downstream as a deterrent now and we’re keeping a closer watch.

 

[Miss Lydia]

How is it going since you put up fencing to keep them from going downstream?

 

[EdgeofAsheville]

How is it going since you put up fencing to keep them from going downstream?

Well, it kept them from going downstream. Now they are traveling up stream! We just keep them out in the stream for less time and keep a closer watch.

 

[Stoney Meadow Maple]

Pretty strong chance they will disappear from predators, but if home is where the food is I wouldn’t see them leaving on their own. Mine live for peas.. so every night they get peas, now that it gets dark early they are all in their coop when i get home. My 2 harlequin don’t touch peas but being ducks they go where the other 8 do. Whenever i take mine down to the stream they end up with one or 2 cases of bumblefoot due to rocks and sticks, so I have kind of stopped doing it. It widens out in one spot for a nice little pond but I don’t encourage its use at this point in time

 

[Miss Lydia]

We have a mountain river down below us and no way would I let mine go down there. We also now have Eagles besides Hawks I don't like feeding the predators.