Need an agile quick duck

[parisfam]

We have a three ponds on our farm, but my sister has a black lab and golden retriever. They are gentle dogs, but like to chase ducks. We bought 5 pekin ducks and put them out there this weekend, but I don't think it will work because the black lab went in to chase and all the ducks came out to land and he was able to pin one down. Is there a breed that would be better with this kind of dog? The pekins are a little clumsy and quite large. They can't fly so I'm not sure they stand a chance. They are back in their pen now. Do I just need to find them a good home? I was really wanting some ducks for the pond. Am I just dreaming or is there a breed that will do fine?

 

[Barnyard]

Quote:
I don't think the problem is the ducks..... it is the dogs. The 2 breeds you have are Retriever's.... that is what they do. Not there fault at all. I think I would keep the ducks in a pen or rehome them. You are going to have this problem no matter what breed you get. JMHO
Any chance of fencing in the pond?


ETA: I agree with you , Pekins are slow, lazy, and clumsy... they do not stand a chance.

 

[parisfam]

We talked about fencing, but I don't think we can afford it. My husband and brother-in-law actually built a dock with a dog house out in the water that the ducks could get in to keep them safe from wild animals, but they didn't even think about going there, they went to the bank. I know the problem is the kind of dog and ducks and I'm afraid it just won't work. It would have if the ducks would have stayed on the pond because the dog couldn't swim too long, but they got on the land. We have all kinds of wild geese and they just fly from one pond to the next if the dogs go out there. I didn't realize until a few days ago that the pekins can't fly. I was hoping some one else had labs and ducks and they survive.

 

[Barnyard]

I am sorry... I didn't mean to sound harsh. I am sure there is away to make it work, just not with the Pekins. I am not sure what breeds would be good for you. I have Khaki cambells, but they can't fly very well either. I know I have some bantam ducks that can fly really good though, so maybe there is hope. I am sure somebody will come along with some better advice!! Goodluck!

 

[parisfam]

I didn't think you sounded harsh. It is just the truth. I don't think it will work. The dog is a very sweet dog and he tries to listen, it is just instinct. I haven't had experience with ducks and was just ignorant when it came to getting them. I never even thought about the dogs or the breed of ducks. They are really pretty ducks by the way. I was just hoping that I might find a workable duck. We had ducks growing up and I was feeling a little nostalgic when we got them.

 

[jrleader99]

I have a one and a half year old lab that I was worried would also attack my chickens and ducks but she is so sweet that she just watches over them. She has not chased them except once when I was trying to get them back in their pen and she was helping.

When I am home, I let our 7 Indian Runners roam the yard. Our lab keeps an eye on them and will corral them back to the center of our yard if they get to far. The ducks were out this morning before I left for work and the lab was in the house. She started to bark and getting excited because she saw something (cat or something) in the yard and wanted to go out and protect the ducks.

So the stereotype of a retriever wanting to attack the ducks is not always the case. Although she does like to chase black birds, turkeys, rabbits, and two of our cats. She actually holds one of the kittens down and nibbles on his neck - very cute.

Oh yeah forgot to mention that Indian Runners are quick and agile on the ground but can not fly but IMHO is not what you want for your situation. They are often used for herding demonstrations and training because they stay in a pack.

 

[parisfam]

Our lab didn't actually attack the duck either. He just pinned it down and didn't hurt it. We thought about trying again and working with the dog. We have kept him away from the ducks in the pen and that may have been a mistake. I have considered trying to introduce them slowly and working with him. I may try that first and if it doesn't work, then getting rid of the ducks.

 

[ChickBond 007]

Have you thought about flying mallards?

 

[parisfam]

I would consider any breed at this point. Up until a few days ago I thought Mallards were only a wild breed. I think they are beautiful, but I still would want to be sure that they had more of a chance of avoiding the dog. The Pekins we got at a feed store and it is the only kind of duckling they had. We got each of the kids one for Easter. If I felt pretty good about a breed that could survive I would probably order some online. I also may try working with the dog and ducks to see if we can find some solution. The kids would be awfully sad to see the ducks go.

 

[Barnyard]

I knew there was a breed that could fly..... Flying Mallards...they are gorgous birds.