Free-ranging new ducks and goose

[sryglet]

Yesterday evening, I got two new ducks - a welsh harlequin / runner mix drake and an all black Muscovy / runner mix hen, as well as a gorgeous four month old Sebastopol female goose. I already have a huge pekin female who free ranges with my two chickens. We live in a clearing deep in the woods.
My question is, how long should I keep the new ducks and goose locked up in their coop? We don't have a run for them, so they're just stuck in a relatively small coop. They'll go right from staying in the coop to free ranging with my other birds. They have a pool and they wouldn't really be able to wander away without going through the woods.
Would it be ok to let them out for the first time this Saturday after two days in their coop?

 

[sryglet]

Please help! I don't want them to run away but I don't want to keep them all locked up!

 

[sryglet]

Bump

 

[Amiga]

Hi, @sryglet - for the most part, generally folks write about keeping the new ducks nearby for a couple of weeks to get used to their new place. Don't panic

Can you set up a temporary fence to let them out and about under some supervision? My own experience is with our place, more than half wooded. Small lot, but still, a bit of woods, and my ducks, heads down foraging among the leaves, would contentedly wander away through the woods if I did not heard them back toward the pen. I take them for walks around the place.

Do you know what they like for treats? You might be able to take them for walks, using the treats to keep them from straying. Just training them to know where home is, using positive reinforcement.

 

[sryglet]

I don't really have a way to make a temporary run for them. With our current duck and two chickens (whom we raised from newborn chicks) we put them in their coop for a couple of days and let them out to free range, and they never seemed to wander far. They go maybe 100 yards. I like to think that the new additions will stick with the current duck, but I'd be so upset if someone went missing.
I know that my current duck LOVES any fruit. She goes crazy over it. I just got these guys yesterday, but they seem to like corn. That's all I know so far. The poor goose has been screeching because she can see the pool. I've never tried walking a duck or goose, do they really stick with you?
I wish that we had a run or a way to make one. Their coop is pretty small and they are definitely not going to be able to stay in there for too long.

 

[quackingdom]

When I bought my ducks, I had them locked in their pen (which has a tiny run; it's a mobile pen and coop) for about two weeks. Then I let them out. I supervised them while they wandered around, and then locked them up after about ½ hour. They didn't go more than 50 feet from their pen. Eventually they were staying out all morning with only minimal supervision (by looking out the window every once in a while). By then, they had wandered several hundred feet from their pen. Now, they are out all day with no real supervision (but are still locked in for the night) and usually don't stray more than 500 feet away.

I'd supervise them for a while and limit their outdoor time until you know where they will go.

 

[sryglet]

I have the day off tomorrow. Maybe I could let them out for a bit. I'm a little worried that I won't be able to heard or catch them - I'm five months pregnant.
So will they be ok if I leave them in their little coop without a run for a week or more?

 

[quackingdom]

I find that my ducks are extremely scared of sticks, rakes, or long objects like that. I was worried about mine running off too, so I carried a stick at first to chase them just in case they got into trouble. Also, carry treats to lure them back in if they refuse.

But they'll be okay in their coop for another week. They just won't be as happy.

 

[Amiga]

How small is small? What are the dimensions of the coop? And is it well ventilated? Just trying to cover the bases.

Congratulations.

Treats and a herding staff. Those have helped me, too. I always put the treats in a red metal bowl. They see the bowl and follow.

 

[sryglet]

How should I give them water when they're in their coop this whole time? I tried to give them a big bowl of water several times but you know ducks... It was spilled way more efficiently than it was drank.