Getting ducks in for the night

[MugsyM]

I am still learning. As my better half says talking to ducks is like talking to a rock. I think rocks listen better.

My ducks free range and there is a pond right really close to the pond. We were doing pretty good getting them to line up and go in AND THEN one had 4 ducklings. One of the ducklings hesitates but will go in about every other night and then there are the 3 stooges. They don't want to leave the pond and seem to know we can't get them when they are in the pond. We had been having food and water for them around the clock. The other day we shut up the food then let them go in after it at night. Got them all but 2 of the 3 stooges. They stayed out all night and still wouldn't come in tonight. Tomorrow is going to be their 3rd day without food but they refuse to come in. I have tried leading them in with treats and they just stay in the pond.

I want them in for their safety but they have just let us know ain't gonna happen. How long can they go by just foraging and not having real food?

 

[johntfs]

I am still learning. As my better half says talking to ducks is like talking to a rock. I think rocks listen better.

My ducks free range and there is a pond right really close to the pond. We were doing pretty good getting them to line up and go in AND THEN one had 4 ducklings. One of the ducklings hesitates but will go in about every other night and then there are the 3 stooges. They don't want to leave the pond and seem to know we can't get them when they are in the pond. We had been having food and water for them around the clock. The other day we shut up the food then let them go in after it at night. Got them all but 2 of the 3 stooges. They stayed out all night and still wouldn't come in tonight. Tomorrow is going to be their 3rd day without food but they refuse to come in. I have tried leading them in with treats and they just stay in the pond.

I want them in for their safety but they have just let us know ain't gonna happen. How long can they go by just foraging and not having real food?

If it's a natural pond, they're getting real food. You might have to try to get them with a pool skimmer or something.

 

[Miss Lydia]

How wide is the pond. I can't remember who it was but just recently someone said they got their ducks off their pond by using a rope and having someone on either side of the pond and using the rope to skim them to the side then getting them to their enclosure once you get them out herd them either 2 people or using a long pole but walk behind them slowly till you get them where you want them to go. And good luck.

 

[Quack head]

My five Appleyards free range on a 1/2 acre pond. When I had two ducks, Drake and Duck, they would actually put themselves in at dusk. I added three younger ducks, and the older ducks forgot everything. The Drake only had one thing on his mind and disrupted everything.

I created a chute with some plastic orange construction fencing, where it is wide at the front and narrows to the door of the duck house. I placed food and water about 1/2 way up the chute and added some mealworms. I also enticed them to with a path of mealworms from the pond to the food dish. I would get behind them with two long poles and calmly guide them to the food.

Now, when I walk to the chute all the ducks come out to the pond and to the food dish. I let them eat until they are finished then calmly guide them to the house.

I also feed them mealworms during the day, about 1/4 cup, so they relate me to treats. This seems to work. FYI, I leave food out all day for them to eat.

 

[Miss Lydia]