My well trained ducks

[dixygirl]

I was laying down inside on the computer and the thought came to my mind instantly"go outside and find the ducks!"
So I jumped up and did. Couldnt find them anywhere. Then out of the side of my eye I see all this white floating in the creek that is more like a river with the heavy rains. There they were about to be carried away at high speed by the current. This is about 300 feet from me so I began quacking at them..
They heard me and swam to the coast just as they were about to be carried past the property line at top speed into the next county by the current. They all got out and woddled up the hill to me and waited for me to put them in their cage.


I guess the high current in the creek was too attractive to them. But I am amazed 1) that I was TOLD by spirit to go get them. A second later and they would have been past the back of my property and I would never have had any idea what happened to them.
And 2) that they OBEYED me and jumped out of the current to the coast and walked single file 300 feet up the hill back to me at the house.

It was absolutely amazing to watch!

 

[mamaKate]

That is such a cool story! What kind of ducks are they?

 

[dixygirl]

they are pekins and a mallard

 

[dixygirl]

I raised them from day old. At first I used to have difficulty herding them when they were younger. But lately I have started quacking at them to find them. Whenever they hear me quacking very loudly they come running. I also walk them into their cage and shed at night by quacking at them and they walk single file in front of me to the house.

The roosters used to also call out to me when I crow to them. The hens are not very good at this yet

. I have NOT been able to train the hens to come to me at my call yet. They ignore me when I call and also are not obedient when I try to herd them either ! Well one hen is obedient.. .the cornish cross hen obeys when she is not too lazy to get up. I can herd the peacocks though and they come to me when I call.

 

[Deedee]

I know you are so releaved that they came to you when you called for them. It could have been a very sad story if not.

 

[dixygirl]

I am very relieved!!!
Now I know to not let them out to free range when the creek gets really high and fast like this. We live and we learn.

 

[mamanaturale]

that is a very cool story!

 

[dixygirl]

I feel very grateful that they are still with me.
I thank God for keeping them safe with me.

 

[headred]

Great story! I am going to let my ducks out of the pen for the first time today. A little scared but I think its time, they are about 7 weeks old and seem cramped! We'll see how it goes when it comes time to put them in. I will definitely be quacking at them!

 

[dixygirl]

I put my arms out to the sides like and airplane or either put a stick in each arm.
That way I can nudge them the way I want them to go from behind with the sticks. Later ,they just look at my arms out the side of their eyes as they walk in front of me once they get good at it.

If I want them to go right, I scoot over slightly to their left side and push them over while continuing walking.

Good luck getting them back in! It will get much better with time. A voice cue is good so they learn to respond to it later when you need to find them.

PS I left mine in their pen today because the creek's water level is still really high. Don't want to risk loosing them again !
I am worried that now that they know about the creek I am going to have to watch them all the time !