Overnight in the Pond?

[RaZ]

It's full dark right now and my 5 pekins are still in the pond. They are ~ 5-6 weeks old and love being in the pond. The temp right now is 64' but I don't know how chilly it will get tonight. I don't have to worry about predators except for maybe a roaming cat, so I think that they would be alright in the pond as long as they stayed there.

However, I think it would be prudent on my part to put them to bed in the coop. Even if they don't seem to like going to bed.

Your thoughts?

 

[julie75]

At 5-6 weeks, I would put them in their house.

 

[RaZ]

That's what I thought. I rousted them out of the pond and shooed them back to the coop. They went in just fine, afterall, that's where the treats are.

I was hoping that they would be smart enough to go on their own.

 

[julie75]

Give them time and they will. Since it has gotten warm, my olders ducks prefer to sleep outside in the covered run. Sometimes I still have to run them out of the pond, which is also fenced in, but not covered. I'm sure they would be ok at night with the dogs that we have, but I have decided it's better to be safe than sorry.

 

[DurhamDuck]

Your biggest worry at night with ducks on the pond would be owls. Ducks can't see them in the dark until it's too late. I would always bring my ducks in at night- even the adult ducks.

 

[RaZ]

Well I don't have to worry about owls. I live in the burbs and haven't seen one here.

For the time being, I'll keep a close watch on them and if it ever warms up here, I might them them camp out.

 

[ChickInDelight]

My baby duckies come when I call, (much like a quack) "duck duck duck duck".

It seems very easy to get ducks to come when called. Last year, my neighbor had ducks, and they came without fail from across the pond when I called. They also came out to my canoe and swam while I paddled.

My babies are still in the dining room, but now I can call them out to the pool and then back into the dining room without fail. I am too old and fat to be chasing them.

In any case, you may want to start calling them each time you feed. You will be amazed how quickly they learn to come when called!