Pekin ducks won't go into the pond :(

[sunshineelove]

I have three Pekin ducks who are about 3 months old now. I have them in a pen in the back yard where I leave the gate open for them to go where ever they want to. They have a small pool that is always filled with water plus water buckets. In the beginning I had to carry one of them so the other two would follow us to the pond which is at least 1/4 acre in size in the front yard. I let them walk around but they wouldn't go into the water. My husband was cleaning out the areas where the weeds/scum were with a large net, so he walked over to them with the net and tried to "shoo" them into the water. They ran into the water and then ran right back out and now they won't go into the water at all! They do wander all the way to the front yard and go to the pond on their own but they won't go in the water. I am totally confused because they are ducks for goodness sakes and they love water. I don't know what to do and I don't want to try and force them to go in. Any suggestions???

 

[Amiga]

Please don't force them. Are there snapping turtles in the pond?

Are any chemicals used to keep the pond clean?

 

[sunshineelove]

Thanks for your reply. We have not seen any snapping turtles so far this year but have in the past but that was only 1-2 maybe, and we have not used chemicals in the pond this year. They walk from way in the back yard all the way up front to go to the pond almost everyday but they won't go in the water. We give them fish from the pond and they eat the foliage then they walk back to their area later in the afternoon. Sometimes they spend half the day by the pond.

 

[Richb353]

Sometimes my ducks won't use their pool either. Can't imagine why!

 

[sunshineelove]

LOL I can see why too! My ducks will go in their pool but they won't go into the large pond in the front yard. They will walk about 1/4 acre to get to the pond and spend most of the day and then go back in the afternoon and get in their little pool. Go figure