My ducks won't go outside unless I do!!!!

[Hev1977]

I have 2 ducks, one I hatched myself, a runner duck, age 4 weeks, and a muscovy, 7 weeks. I bought her when she was 3 weeks old. They are set up in my garage, which leads to the back garden. I leave the door open so they can go in their secure enclosure, which they can forage, paddle and just generally be ducks!! But they won't go out by themselves!!! They follow me out there, I leave, then when I check they're ok 5 minutes later, they're back in and they stay there till I go out again!!! Am I doing something wrong?? Should I stay with them out there till they're more confident?? I'm looking at housing them outside more permanently but I can't when they just want to come in!!! I've shut the gate, so they can't come in, but they just cry till I let them in!! I hate hearing them cry, so it's not like I can ignore them!!! Any advice welcome.

 

[BullChick]

They are imprinted on you. They will likely adapt to not having you around. Or, it can just be that baby ducks don’t have oil glands yet. I think it’s 8-weeks when they get them, and can then float in the water all day long. Maybe they genuinely are tired from swimming, and want to lay down.

 

[Duck_life]

My muscovies just don't like water. They should grow off you when they'e older, though still be close to you.

 

[drumstick diva]

wow never thought some ducks would not like water.

 

[Duck_life]

wow never thought some ducks would not like water.

I don't think muscovies are much of water ducks, I have 3 sources of water for them and they prefer pooping on my side walk..

 

[Fishkeeper]

The feral Muscovies around my local park don't seem to go in the water much, either.

For your ducks in particular, let them do whatever. They'll go outside when they want to. Unless you see something scaring them (hawk, dog, etc), probably there's nothing keeping them from going out, except that they want to be in. Unless it's cold out there.
Check that nothing is scaring them and that they're protected from the wind, then don't worry about it. Just leave the door open so they can go in and out as they like. They'll start going out more eventually, I'd think.

 

[Pennys Mama]

I don't think muscovies are much of water ducks, I have 3 sources of water for them and they prefer pooping on my side walk..

 

[drumstick diva]

Well Mallards sure love water, when the ponds are frozen over - we always see them swimming in a area with run off.

 

[FortCluck]

Muscovy don't like deep water. They like to get their feet wet and that's about it. They're more of a forest duck. They aren't a duck you'll see hanging in a pond. My Pekins irritate my muscovy so much with their water splashing, she hangs out on the roof of my house or on top of the 9 ft hight coop.

I think yours are just scared to go out by themselves. I'd sit out there with them to get them used to the area. I would sit out with my ducklings for a couple hours every day until they got used to their fenced in free range area. It took them about a week to realize how fun it was to explore. Once they realized they could still holes in the yard for bugs, they forgot about me... Well until I go outside with the scrap bucket.

Get some meaworms and throw them out in the area you want them to go. That'll help them realize they can go explore. They just need to realize it's safe and okay to go out there.

 

[sourland]

Any possibility that there is a hawk in the area scaring them ?