Leading ducks to water

[dpenning]

So my duck pen is about 150’ from my 5 acre pond. My Perkins are full grown and I have tried twice to slowly herd them to the pond walking behind them with my arms wide. I got 5 of them close enough to get their webs wet but the y were panicking and immediately ran back up to their pen.

I had been moving their food to the half way point foe a week or so hoping they would get curious but no joy. I thought for sure they would want to check it out once they got their feet wet. I’ll keep trying to slowly herd them down but any suggestions would be welcome.

 

[SueT]

Do you think they may have sensed any predators?

 

[dpenning]

I don’t think so. Their biggest predator lives on the other side of the fence from their pen. My French mastiff thinks he is a mighty bird hunter but I had him locked in the house. Going toward the pond would be moving away from the dog yard and the threat.

 

[Jpat]

Ide throw one in litteraly

Or carry one or too in with me depending on your relationship with your ducks

 

[dpenning]

Ide throw one in litteraly

Or carry one or too in with me depending on your relationship with your ducks

I was trying to do it so it was non traumatic for them but you may be right. They don’t want to be handled but I can catch one in their pen. Ill keep herding them for a few more days first and see what happens. I know they would love the pond if they give it a chance.

 

[SueT]

And a 5 acre pond (I'd call that a lake) doesn't have any underwater monsters.....like alligators?

 

[DesertBird]

I wouldn't just toss them in, personally - it seems like it'd be very stressful for them. How big are they? If you're able to wade in a little bit with two of them and offer them some treats or grass in the water, they might be a bit more willing. Perhaps they just don't like being that out in the open. Ducks are super skittish so anything new is going to take a while for them to learn and be okay with. Mine weren't very trustworthy of the ramp up to their pool for about 2-3 weeks.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Wide open spaces makes them feel vulnerable.

 

[chickens really]

Walk to the shore with them...Splash your hand in or go in with rubber boots. Place the feed close to the action.

 

[dpenning]

And a 5 acre pond (I'd call that a lake) doesn't have any underwater monsters.....like alligators?

LOL, when we bought the place the real estate ad said “Own your own 7 acre lake”. I don’t know what the cutoff is between pond and lake but even with our renovations I think 5 acres is probably more accurate. We ate in Texas so no gators thank goodness! The last two years we have had Canada geese raise a clutch of seven babies on the pond with no losses to underwater monsters.