Leading ducks to water

[dpenning]

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.

Yeah, I want them to think it is a good idea so I’ll keep herding until they figure it out. They are full grown Pekins so they are large ducks.

 

[dpenning]

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

I’ve been moving the feeder closer to the pond each day but when I moved it right down to the edge they didn’t touch it. I’ve been moving it back to their pen each night. Can I not give them food over night at 2.5 to 3 months? I give them fresh food and water every night when I lock them in their pen.

Wide open spaces makes them feel vulnerable.

i get that. I really want them to learn that the pond is their safe zone. My neighbors had ducks for years that would go from one neighbor porch where they were raised by the kids across the street to the other neighbors pond during the day and back again at night. It can be done, I just have to keep after it.

 

[chickens really]

I’ve been moving the feeder closer to the pond each day but when I moved it right down to the edge they didn’t touch it. I’ve been moving it back to their pen each night. Can I not give them food over night at 2.5 to 3 months? I give them fresh food and water every night when I lock them in their pen.
i get that. I really want them to learn that the pond is their safe zone. My neighbors had ducks for years that would go from one neighbor porch where they were raised by the kids across the street to the other neighbors pond during the day and back again at night. It can be done, I just have to keep after it.

Definitely...The more you leave them they will just find water and go...

 

[dpenning]

Ok, I took away their water so they have had to go to the pond. It has been incredible to watch them play in the field in the rain, so cute! I'm a little surprised and a little sad that they will not go out and go for a swim in the pond. It shows how much the mama duck really teaches them.

They will go to the edge of the pond to drink and eat but haven't yet gone out for a swim. Hubs and I slowly herded them down to the edge a couple of times and I've seen them go down on their own. They have been loving the rain! They still go in to their pen when it starts to get dark so I'm hopeful I'll be able to keep them safe and have them go back and forth. Hope they figure out they have a whole playground available to them soon!

 

[Helloworld]

It takes a while. Best thing we have found is to put their baby pool in the shallow part and let them just get used to the vastness of the sky.

 

[jennybvcr]

The last two years we have had Canada geese raise a clutch of seven babies on the pond with no losses to underwater monsters.

That is so lucky! We had a pond when I was a kid and a mallard couple would always hatch their ducklings there every spring and we would lose at least half the clutch to stupid snapping turtles. They got my first duck Gertrude too. It was many, many (20) years before I got more ducks.

 

[Abraeri]

Have you tried throwing in some bright treats like frozen corn? It took a while (and me throwing them in lol) for them to get used to a bigger kiddie pool I bought. Just give them time.