Help! How can i get my ducks out of the pond?!

[ackie]

I suspect after tonight theyll appreciate the warm dry place you have for them.

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

I think the temps are not the biggest worry. Predators definitely would be my biggest worry.

@WannaBeHillBilly do you have a high predator load there?

I know tonight this may not work BUT....my ducks like a lazer light almost as much as a cat does.
It might be a good idea to lazer light train them going forward. Being very curious creatures they have to see what that red glowing dot is doing.

As i wrote, i have seen a fox on my driveway, just three days ago. But would a fox, raccoon or a weasel jump into an ice-cold body of water trying to catch some duck?
They have formed a raft smack in the middle of the pond.
I tried the »flashlight of doom« - the grown up ducks already ran away when they only saw it in my hand, but the young ones just ignored it, even when is witched it to stroboscope. - That's when the grown up's usually try to go through concrete walls.

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

Doing this in the pouring down rain was the worst times for me, especially because my ducks are TERRIFIED of umbrellas. So I'd be trying to tempt, coax, or trick them to come up the bank. I had to leave them out on the pond twice, but my ducks were older than yours are now. They were just more determined those nights

They are usually scared of everything bigger than a cat-kibble, but in the middle of that pond they seem to feel invincible.
I will build them an easy climb-out ramp tomorrow and then wave with an empty food-bag at the other side of the pond. If that doesn't help, i am serious about the firecrackers!

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

I suspect after tonight theyll appreciate the warm dry place you have for them.

I will have a kiddie pool with warm straw in the garage if they really need it.
But i will spank each and every duck butt before they are allowed to warm up!

 

[21hens-incharge]

As i wrote, i have seen a fox on my driveway, just three days ago. But would a fox, raccoon or a weasel jump into an ice-cold body of water trying to catch some duck?
They have formed a raft smack in the middle of the pond.
I tried the »flashlight of doom« - the grown up ducks already ran away when they only saw it in my hand, but the young ones just ignored it, even when is witched it to stroboscope. - That's when the grown up's usually try to go through concrete walls.

Thing is those nutty quackers will be on and off the water during the night. Fox and other toothy beasts will wait for them to come off the water and settle then they snag them. A desperate young fox might slip and end up in the water but not likely on purpose to try and out paddle a duck.

I have a tiny lazer light that we play with. I shine it and they ALL try to taste the dot. I use it to run my dogs in the evenings too. No leash to trip me with and they get a good workout. I just happened to have it in my pocket one night and wondered if the ducks would like that too. They did.

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

Thing is those nutty quackers will be on and off the water during the night. Fox and other toothy beasts will wait for them to come off the water and settle then they snag them. A desperate young fox might slip and end up in the water but not likely on purpose to try and out paddle a duck.

I have a tiny lazer light that we play with. I shine it and they ALL try to taste the dot. I use it to run my dogs in the evenings too. No leash to trip me with and they get a good workout. I just happened to have it in my pocket one night and wondered if the ducks would like that too. They did.

I am afraid they will do as you wrote. I guess as long as they are in the middle of the water they are some kind of invincible. Snapper turtles are hibernating at this time of the year and no big fish in that pond, just newts - those really had a bad day today.

 

[HeatherKellyB]

We have a mama fox and her 2 pups right by the house. I had an injured Canada Goose that was hanging out here for a while. Many nights i would go out to find one of those foxes on the bank stalking her. She knew the fox was there as she was wild. This is why I'd probably go back out after a bit and try again. Maybe after being in the dark alone (without older ducks or human) , they'll reconsider your offer, but then again, they may not.

 

[cluckingheck]

i had this same problem when i first had ducks. i had a kayak on hand, so that’s the only way i got them out of the pond and back on their way home. it seems like a boat is really the only way lol.

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

I could not resist, switched my phone to night vision and snuck up to the pond.
Those b*itches were happily chatting in the middle of the pond until I turned on the flashlight. Loud protest QUACKS but they stayed put out of reach for everyone.

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

Good night everybody, 7:30 is sunrise here and I know a couple of ducks who will have a rude wakeup call...