Hello from Canada! I desperately need duck herding advice!

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Qauckers

Qauckers

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Hi everyone!

I have four ducks that are about six weeks old. I kept them indoors in my kitchen for about twenty days. They were getting pretty big and stinky so we moved them to their new coop down by our pond. For the first five days they were coming when I called, eating out of our hands, and not at all scared of us. Now it's like they've gone feral. I have been having trouble getting them in at night and last night was horrible. They crossed our pond and found a nice little nesting area among a thicket so densely populated with trees that I couldn't get to them. After calling after them for an hour and trying to coax them with food I was barely glanced at. It was like calling a brick wall.:barnie I gave up and went to bed.

At five this morning I checked on them and whew, still there! Their bellies finally got the better of them and they came out at around ten to feed. I got them feeding out of my hand, albeit suspiciously. I captured two and then it was like a Benny Hill chase for the remaining two. I finally caught the third and now the fourth obviously is avoiding me like the plague.

So two questions.
How in the name of god do I capture this lone duck?
How do I convince them that their coop is a good place to be?

I have a friend that has chickens and she suggested keeping them 24/7 for 10 days so they know it's home. I'm willing to do that just feel badly for the them. Has anyone else done that?

Thanks for reading my ramble!:)
 
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Welcome to BYC!

I don't keep ducks, but it works the same with ducks as it does chickens, at least I think it does. Keep them locked in the coop for a few days. 10 days is a bit long. 2 or 3 days will work. They need to sleep in there for a few days, and not be allowed out so they can bond with their home. This teaches them where home is. You can then let them out after a few days. Make sure it is not hot in the coop and they have plenty of water to splash around in.

You can get more help with your ducks in our Duck section. You can share stories, pics and chat with other duck owners there..

https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/42/ducks

Good luck with your ducks and welcome to our flock!
 
Qauckers said:
Hi everyone!

I have four ducks that are about six weeks old. I kept them indoors in my kitchen for about twenty days. They were getting pretty big and stinky so we moved them to their new coop down by our pond. For the first five days they were coming when I called, eating out of our hands, and not at all scared of us. Now it's like they've gone feral. I have been having trouble getting them in at night and last night was horrible. They crossed our pond and found a nice little nesting area among a thicket so densely populated with trees that I couldn't get to them. After calling after them for an hour and trying to coax them with food I was barely glanced at. It was like calling a brick wall.
barnie.gif
I gave up and went to bed.

At five this morning I checked on them and whew, still there! Their bellies finally got the better of them and they came out at around ten to feed. I got them feeding out of my hand, albeit suspiciously. I captured two and then it was like a Benny Hill chase for the remaining two. I finally caught the third and now the fourth obviously is avoiding me like the plague.

So two questions.
How in the name of god do I capture this lone duck?
How do I convince them that their coop is a good place to be?

I have a friend that has chickens and she suggested keeping them 24/7 for 10 days so they know it's home. I'm willing to do that just feel badly for the them. Has anyone else done that?

Thanks for reading my ramble!
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Alright
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Your right they went Feral on you so if you ever get a hold of them you need to lock them up in your quacker coop for several weeks or longer as they are so young so they learn where home is and always have feed in the coop for them in the evening when they come home to bet down and make home comfy for them and safe as that is about all they want in life anyway .......





Having adults around makes a difference ....






And leaving children out on their own is not a good idea ....







Even if the adults follow the baby's around they still come home in the evening .....






And most any water fowl are up and moving at night .....








But like any child after taking a bath they want to get muddy .....





So enjoy your water fowl as they are funny to observe .......















gander007
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Hello :frow and Welcome To BYC! You got some good advice / links above. With the lone duck, if you leave his friends locked up he should come back to the coop for them ... if you can keep them in a cage in the coop / run with the door open until #4 goes in you should be able to close the door after him. Unfortunately ducks really really like water so it may be an ongoing battle with coming back to the coop, especially if there is a lot of food/forage available in the pond so they aren't hungry.
 
Thanks you all for the warm welcome and the advice! I figured I had done my research and was overly prepared for the little critters :lau They certainly proved that thought wrong!

Well, I pretty much hung around our pond all day and was avoided all day long. Had supper then went back down not for duck but to close nesting box lid and chage out water. That's when he decided to make his move! I'm busy doing something else entirely and I look down and there is ducky! We had mini Benny hill chase and I caught him! Bloody ducks! I think they may be smarter than me! :th I'm extremely happy to say they're all tucked away in coop and shall be staying in coop and run for awhile.

Unfortunately, I think my pond and surrounding area is chock full of fun bugs and frogs and plenty of greens so I have a sinking feeling I'll be buying a kiddie pool. We shall see!

Thanks again!
 
Hello and welcome! Good luck with your ducks! Gander makes some great and funny points. :)
 
My newly found hobby has not gone well. I went down yesterday to check on my duckies and two were deceased. I could not comprehend what would have caused this so checked byc and spoke to a few friends who have chickens. I brought the other two in the house in their brooder and watched them throughout the day. One was normal self the other seemed listless and really not wanting/unable to move. I gave them bath in tub last night and again one was cheery and happy to preen and swim while other was listless and seeming to be loosing neck muscle strength. Again went back on byc and found some posts on botulism. I last checked on them at 2am and listless fellow was still alive, this morning he was not. I phoned our agricultural vet center and went in and they preformed an autopsy. Vet figures botulism was culprit as all organs were very healthy. He said they don't have medication for this that they could order something from states but by the time it got here he'd be dead. He also suggested I burn the others to prevent other animals from getting sick. I still have one left and he appears robust but is not acting in the same manner as yesterday. He seems to be laying down a lot but is drinking and eating. I'm afraid to do the flush/tube down throat, I'm scared I kill him. Anyone else been through this? I don't want him to die!

I also have two 18 day old chickens which I was going to move into coop. I did ask vet about cleaning procedures with botulism. He explained that because this is an anaerobic bacteria it doesn't survive once oxygen hits it. I've cleaned out coop and am currently venting it. Does anyone have any other suggestions?
 
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Thanks so much for the response and links! I'm trying the Epsom salt flush. I hope it works because he certainly has it. I feel so bad for him. This is a horrible bacteria!
 

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