How to throw the ducks for a loop

The duck's house is on the deck. I took everything off the deck today and cleaned it to get ready to restain and protect it. DH broke himself about 2 minutes into the project and has been on the couch out of commission since. So it was all me today to do the deck work.
I can't get the duck house off the deck on my own, so it is up on the concrete patio by the back door and figured I'd just carry the ducks around the front and through the house for bed time. Well, super warm and sunny day helped bake that finish in so I was planning to just carry them over the back deck (don't want them pooping on it yet, so they get a ride, no walking for them).
About 30 mins before dark they are standing at the bottom of the deck stairs trying to figure out how to get over the duck barricade. They gave up and went back into the yard. I watered the garden and some of the sod around the garage and about 2 mins before dark, went to scoop them up while I could still see them. They were standing around the pool discussing what they should do since they couldn't get to the deck for bed. Poor girls were just confused, so I scooped up a duck and carried her off. Then went back and grabbed Cadbury while I could still see her and then Ally. Got them all into bed and no mess on the deck.

Then I realized I have to do the same in reverse in the morning... with poop covered ducks since there is no bedding in their house tonight LOL
Can't hose poop off the fresh stain, so they can't walk on it yet. And every morning... I open their door, they hop out and pbbhht, huge splatter of poop from each duck, one at a time - usually before they reach the stairs So they will get a ride with a towel so I remain poop free!