Getting ducks to use new ramp/tub

[Chickmamma29]

Good morning!i could use some advice and experience today! I have 5 female ducks that have used baby pools for swimming since 2 weeks old. My husband and I just picked up an oval bath tub cheap, and are trying to get the gals to use it. So far they are scared to death! We have rough painted a ramp, so it is not slick, and have made a rick ramp in the tub to help get out. I have taken each duck and tried to introduce the ramp, and calmly place them in the water. Each duck has had the same reaction... fear, flapping and escape lol!

Today, I did not fill their baby pools and lined the ramp with oats to try to convince them to try the ramp. No go. But the chicken sure liked the idea, ha! They are not afraid of the ramp for a treat!

So, any hope for this new water feature???

 

[Debs Flock]

How old are the ducks now?

The ramp looks a bit steep. Any chance you could pile something sturdy there, like bricks or something?

Ducks do not like new things. If you stick with the ramp, I'd suggest putting something going across, like wooden dowels cut in half (lengthwise) every 6 inches or so. This will help them feel secure in their footing.

Then get them used to it gradually. I'd use frozen peas (after thawing) to bribe them onto & up them ramp.

Good luck!

 

[Chickmamma29]

The girls are all 22 weeks. Good idea about the wooden dowels!
So true about ducks not liking new things .
I am worried because I don't think the plastic baby pools will last during the winter. Do you think I am right by not filling those up? I was thinking is I fill them, they will never give the tub a try.

 

[Debs Flock]

I'm near St. Louis and this winter will be our 3rd year using the same plastic baby pools. Of course, we don't fill them if the water will freeze, but many times they've had water & frozen overnight.

I'd continue using the baby pools until they're comfy with the tub. They'll get there, but it will take some time. Also, they're a bit young to be sure-footed so they'll definitely need something besides or on the ramp.

 

[Chickmamma29]

Thank you so much for your thoughts and help!

I'm near St. Louis and this winter will be our 3rd year using the same plastic baby pools. Of course, we don't fill them if the water will freeze, but many times they've had water & frozen overnight.

I'd continue using the baby pools until they're comfy with the tub. They'll get there, but it will take some time. Also, they're a bit young to be sure-footed so they'll definitely need something besides or on the ramp.

 

[Debs Flock]

Sure, happy to help!

 

[TeeMom]

We had a ramp going into a pool when our ducks were little. The wider you can make the ramp the better because they have so much horizontal movement when they waddle that they easily fall off making them not want to try it again. When we were training them to the ramp (which they were extremely resistant to), we made kind of a chute with fencing on either side of the ramp, so we could herd the whole flock to it and going up was their only option. Took a week or two of ushering them to the pool several times a day, but they eventually started doing it on their own and then we gradually removed the fencing. Takes some time and patience, but they will learn. Also, ours was probably even a little steeper than you have yours, but you probably will want something more than rough paint for some grip.

 

[Chickmamma29]

Good to know! Feeling like I have hope!!

We had a ramp going into a pool when our ducks were little. The wider you can make the ramp the better because they have so much horizontal movement when they waddle that they easily fall off making them not want to try it again. When we were training them to the ramp (which they were extremely resistant to), we made kind of a chute with fencing on either side of the ramp, so we could herd the whole flock to it and going up was their only option. Took a week or two of ushering them to the pool several times a day, but they eventually started doing it on their own and then we gradually removed the fencing. Takes some time and patience, but they will learn. Also, ours was probably even a little steeper than you have yours, but you probably will want something more than rough paint for some grip.

 

[lomine]

If you can, I would make a ramp that is longer, wider, and has more grip to it. Dowels across it is a good idea. I had two different ramps my ducks used. One was very wide and covered in a faux grass outdoor carpet. The other was very long, had dowels, was painted with paint mixed with sand. It was narrow but had tall walls on the sides. The ducks got used to using both. It just takes time.

It might also be helpful if you build a deck around the tub so they don't jump straight out of the tub and fall to the ground.

You could also dig a big hole and bury the tub if none of that works.

 

[Chickmamma29]

I like that idea! And we also thought about the deck, but ran out of time this weekend! We will be revisiting that idea!!

If you can, I would make a ramp that is longer, wider, and has more grip to it. Dowels across it is a good idea. I had two different ramps my ducks used. One was very wide and covered in a faux grass outdoor carpet. The other was very long, had dowels, was painted with paint mixed with sand. It was narrow but had tall walls on the sides. The ducks got used to using both. It just takes time.

It might also be helpful if you build a deck around the tub so they don't jump straight out of the tub and fall to the ground.

You could also dig a big hole and bury the tub if none of that works.

If you can, I would make a ramp that is longer, wider, and has more grip to it. Dowels across it is a good idea. I had two different ramps my ducks used. One was very wide and covered in a faux grass outdoor carpet. The other was very long, had dowels, was painted with paint mixed with sand. It was narrow but had tall walls on the sides. The ducks got used to using both. It just takes time.

It might also be helpful if you build a deck around the tub so they don't jump straight out of the tub and fall to the ground.

You could also dig a big hole and bury the tub if none of that works.