How will I get my ducks to bed if they free range?

[clucknpeck]

Today was the first day I put my ducks into the chicken run with all the hens. It went great! The chickens didn't pick on them like I had expected. Actually, they look confused and terrified. Haha anyway, we would love to let our ducks free range in our small pasture if we can but I have some concerns.
How do you get them back in their coop at night?
Will they hope the aprox. 4 & 1/2ft fence to the neighbors yard?
Do you have to worry about hawks like you do with chickens?

I could build them a run if needed, I might even keep them with my chickens, I just want them to have a lot of room to roam. I just don't know how realistic that is. :/

 

[mnferalkitty]

I don't think they will hop the fence unless you have mallards, its easy to herd ducks I just go behind mine with an unbrella and open and close it to get them moving if they start to veer in the wrong direction I put my hand out and wave it and they veer from that hand. I toss some grain into the coop for a treat. I don't even have to use the umbrella any more I just yell ducky ducky ducky and they come running. A hungry hawk might go for a duck. I have 6 ducks that stay with my chickens

 

[Amiga]

Make being in the house as fun and pleasant as possible. Always give them treats in the house (not regular feeding, but peas or something) in the late afternoon / evening. Make sure bedding is in good shape, water is nearby and relatively clean.

 

[clucknpeck]

Thanks guys! I have them spending days with the chickens right now, and nights back in their warm brooder. It is surprisingly easy to herd them, plus they come right to me looking for food.- I don't have food in the run and they act like they are starving! I figured they would forage though, and I throw in scraps. Feel free to correct me if I am wrong.
So I have more hope for getting them back in their house if I so decide to let them free range. Should I lock them in their house for a week like I did my chickens?

 

[LydiaB]

I trained my ducks by saying "Jem, Jemimah, Food" when I feed them. They now come running to the duckhouse as soon as I start yelling. It is really cute. I started it in March, when I got them, and I didn't find out that they learned it until last week when I just tried it to see if they would come. I am teaching my ducklings that when I say bedtime it means the get special food. I got the Jem and the Jemimah's as adults.

 

[Going Quackers]

I have a run near my barn, so when they were young, we would herd them back n forth to the barn, to the run...


Eventually we just skipped the run, most nights the birds are already in the barn but we can herd in any stragglers. While i do keep feed/water in the barn i do not use any special treats etc.

 

[Goat_Walker]

I free ranged over 70 ducks on 5 acres, not fenced in. I taught them that what a whistle is. Whistle = food. Bucket shaking and whistle = ducks running and flying into me lol. Also just get them into the habit. Ducks are ALL HABIT! And repetition. Yes you still have to watch out for predators, but teaching your ducks that a certain colored bucket or sound means a reward keeps them at your feet. I let them out in the morning, whistled as i fed them, then let them free range. At night, at duck, id whistle again, put out corn, and herd all the little buggers into their enclosure.