How to train my almost 4 month old ducks to come when called?

[Miss Lydia]

Was this message for me or for @emmec19 ?

emmec19

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

Animals don't care about the words, it's the tone that gets their attention. Pretty much all dogs will respond to a call of "here, stupid, come here stupid!" if it's in the right tone.

Except, I don't use come or here for my dogs since it is an overused phrase. Dogs read body language and listen to the tones of voice, so they would definitely come to someone who is being cordial in tone and looks.

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

As for ducks (dogs, chickens, children etc...) whatever you decide to use phrase, treat, sounds, be consistent. Consistency always works.
My recall for my ducks while they are out in the yard, but need to get back to their run is, "Lets go." I also shake a container of mealworms and treat them once they go into the run saying, "good ducks".
At night I say, "bedtime" while corraling them with a stick and my arms and guiding them into their house. Once into the house I say, "good ducks" (But offer no treats).
Ducks can also respond to their names whether it is their name or the tone you are using, I am not sure. But, I try to call them by name when they are separated or closest to me.

As for my chickens - shaking the can of mealworms and saying "in" works for them. They seem a bit more simple minded. I do have one brahma that knows her name though.

It might sound corny but it works.

 

[CrystaBub]

It might sound corny but it works.

Doesn't sound corny at all - it's exactly what I do - just with different words. My ducks know:

• Inside - to go into the run
• Night Night - to go into their house
• Up UP - to go on the deck
• Let's go for a walk - they seriously will come out of the pond for this - they love walking around the property perimeter
• And 3 out of 4 know their names - still working on the 4th that we got on Friday - right now she just wants me to disappear LOL

And what I've learned is that if I can just get one to follow me, the rest fall in line....

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

Doesn't sound corny at all - it's exactly what I do - just with different words. My ducks know:

• Inside - to go into the run
• Night Night - to go into their house
• Up UP - to go on the deck
• Let's go for a walk - they seriously will come out of the pond for this - they love walking around the property perimeter
• And 3 out of 4 know their names - still working on the 4th that we got on Friday - right now she just wants me to disappear LOL

And what I've learned is that if I can just get one to follow me, the rest fall in line....

They are pretty intelligent.
2 of mine know their names. It is just the other 2 are so close in looks that I have to really look at them - and by then the moment has passed.

 

[happy duck]

Love the ideas!!! I will soon start to train them to come when I call them so when they are out on the pond they will come. They will only be out on the pond for a while. They will then get cooped up at night...a little after they finish in the pond! I think I have this all figured out! Sorry just thinking out loud!!! I think mine will go into the coop without having to be herded! I would love to train mine to go on walks with me!!! How do you do it @CrystaBub?

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

Love the ideas!!! I will soon start to train them to come when I call them so when they are out on the pond they will come. They will only be out on the pond for a while. They will then get cooped up at night...a little after they finish in the pond! I think I have this all figured out! Sorry just thinking out loud!!! I think mine will go into the coop without having to be herded! I would love to train mine to go on walks with me!!! How do you do it @CrystaBub?

When I started training mine to come, I started in the run calling them from up close and then farther away and from different areas of the run. I know you didn't ask me, but if I shake the container of mealworms and call them, they will follow me just about anywhere in the yard.

 

[happy duck]

When I started training mine to come, I started in the run calling them from up close and then farther away and from different areas of the run. I know you didn't ask me, but if I shake the container of mealworms and call them, they will follow me just about anywhere in the yard.

Good idea!!! I was just out on a run and was thinking " I need to train my ducks to run behind me....maybe I can just shake the container like people on BYC said!"

 

[Fishkeeper]

You might also have some luck training ducks to walk on harnesses. One of my dream poultry-things is to train a pair of Malay chickens (VERY tall chickens that look like dinos) to walk on leashes so I can just walk them around the neighborhood like it's totally normal.

 

[Hopperkiller]

Animals don't care about the words, it's the tone that gets their attention. Pretty much all dogs will respond to a call of "here, stupid, come here stupid!" if it's in the right tone.

My wife calls the stray cat she adopted Louie and he comes running. I dont like cats so i call him d#$%head and he waltzes up to me. I have never pet him or given him treats but they seem to know when to come. Dogs, cows, and chickens dont wait to be called when i am seen going to feed barrels. They bum rush me. I bet those ducks would do the same after the figure out what you are getting for them.