OH NO Now what do I do? UPDATE Post 27

[r4eboxer]

Quote:
Well I guess they aren’t cold yet? I forgot to mention there are branches that DH placed in the pond over the summer that acts as a great camouflage for them. You can see it a little in the first photo. They do spend a lot of time under that brush so I figure that will help with predators. I'm just worried about their feet mostly. Urgh I was hoping this would go smoother. I even put the wire cage I was keeping them in in front of the coop hoping they would go it it and find the duck house, TO NO AVAIL

 

[r4eboxer]

Quote:
This is GREAT and I will try when I get home from work. I have only put straw in the coop. I reallly didn't plan on leaving them out Saturday, I was just wanting them to get some time in the pond for bathing, learning to swim and some fun time. I thought they would come out for food. They always ran to me when it was feeding time in the basement. I figure they are getting some fish to eat and are not that hungry.

I figured it was not a good thing when I saw the ice this morning. I went home at lunch to check on them and everything is thawed out as it's pretty warm for December 18 here. I put more food in their crate but they ran and I didn't have time to spend trying to catch them.

 

[70%cocoa]

I think you are going to need to trap them as Amiga suggests. Or build a pen around the coop with a gate, feed them only in the coop (as Sourland says) till they get used to that and after a few days of them going in there to eat, move in and close the gate behind them.

If your pond only gets thin ice the ducks will be fine. They are adapted to the cold, and you have big birds with plenty of muscle and fat mass on them. They have a vascular system in their feet that is designed to prevent foot freezing and body cooling.

So don't panic, just work on your plan to capture them.

 

[r4eboxer]

70%cocoa :

I think you are going to need to trap them as Amiga suggests. Or build a pen around the coop with a gate, feed them only in the coop (as Sourland says) till they get used to that and after a few days of them going in there to eat, move in and close the gate behind them.

If your pond only gets thin ice the ducks will be fine. They are adapted to the cold, and you have big birds with plenty of muscle and fat mass on them. They have a vascular system in their feet that is designed to prevent foot freezing and body cooling.

So don't panic, just work on your plan to capture them.

Thank you for the reassuring words and info about their feet, I feel like a heel letting them in the pond and just assuming they would come to me for dinner.​

 

[Aria]

Ducks LOVE WATER AND A POND. We had Call Ducks for many years. They NEVER came out of the Pond....we had to DRIVE them out into the Barn.

They will be fine WV 50 degrees.....and unless they find food...they will come in for food. Ours NEVGER did. Of course we have 0 and below temperatures and we HAD to drive them in.
Never leave food outdoors.

That is why we have Silkie Chickens and they give us daily eggs. Chickens go in and out by themselves and are MUCH CLEANER AND easier to care for. Aria

 

[Amiga]

r4eboxer,

If I had a quarter for every time ducks did something completely unexpected . . . . I could almost afford the anti-anxiety medication!!!

Keep at it, keep lovin' 'em, learn from them, and share the stories.

 

[r4eboxer]

Quote:
They are unpredictable, I figured they would act much like my geese. They go into the water but spend a large amount of the day walking around the property stealing food from the goats and the rest of the farm. The geese run honking toward me for treats, I figured the ducks would behave the same. HA WRONG

 

[Miss Lydia]

70%cocoa :

I think you are going to need to trap them as Amiga suggests. Or build a pen around the coop with a gate, feed them only in the coop (as Sourland says) till they get used to that and after a few days of them going in there to eat, move in and close the gate behind them.

If your pond only gets thin ice the ducks will be fine. They are adapted to the cold, and you have big birds with plenty of muscle and fat mass on them. They have a vascular system in their feet that is designed to prevent foot freezing and body cooling.

So don't panic, just work on your plan to capture them.

What sourland, Cocoa and Amiga says is wise. Feeding only inside the coop may bring them in if not. the fence and water approach, please keep us updated. Some people leave their ducks out year round, me I would be a zombie from not sleeping and going out trying to catch them and make sure they are safe. Hoping it all works out.

 

[Hattiegun]

I raised mine inside , could hand feed and pick up a couple of them, they were 2 mo before their pen was complete. Their pond is inside the nite pen BUT, they loved it soooo much that they would not even come close to me for quite some time, in fear they would have to leave and go back inside LOL, but when they realized they didnt have to leave they got better again... THEY DOOO LOVE THIER WATER.. I am such a worry wart toooo .. luckily like you said, its been mild out but i think they will come around.. i carry their treats in plastic groc sacks and every nite at dusk , shake the sack of treats in their coop and they should come runnin. !! Good Luck L

 

[70%cocoa]

Quote:
Hilarious and true.

A healthy duck can quite happily stand on the frozen surface of a pond with no problems. They adjust their blood flow to keep their feet just above freezing and their bodies toasty warm. They have very clever feet