teaching ducklings to roost...?

[sehfergy]

any suggestions welcome. i have 4 ducklings-2 cayuga & 2 blue swedish. they are fully feathered so we moved them outside about a week ago.

they free range in a fenced in yard & have a small run attached to their coop. each morning they come out into the run quacking to be let out.

the problem is they do not go in at night fall, they simply settle in to the grass & fall asleep. each night i have to go out & pick them up & put them in the coop. this makes them very upset & they have become scared of me. so 2 problems: my ducks won’t put themselves to bed & also they are now frightened of me whereas when they were brooding they would happily sit on my lap & snooze (we always handle our birds so when they’re adults & have issues we can catch them to check them out).

any suggestions for teaching ducks to roost & also help them not be so scared? i’ve tried enticing them w/ treats but they are too scared of me to pay any attention.

 

[SurferchickinSB]

any suggestions welcome. i have 4 ducklings-2 cayuga & 2 blue swedish. they are fully feathered so we moved them outside about a week ago.

they free range in a fenced in yard & have a small run attached to their coop. each morning they come out into the run quacking to be let out.

the problem is they do not go in at night fall, they simply settle in to the grass & fall asleep. each night i have to go out & pick them up & put them in the coop. this makes them very upset & they have become scared of me. so 2 problems: my ducks won’t put themselves to bed & also they are now frightened of me whereas when they were brooding they would happily sit on my lap & snooze (we always handle our birds so when they’re adults & have issues we can catch them to check them out).

any suggestions for teaching ducks to roost & also help them not be so scared? i’ve tried enticing them w/ treats but they are too scared of me to pay any attention.

I didn’t know that duck’s roost. I thought they usually just sleep in bushes and weeds on the ground.

 

[sehfergy]

I didn’t know that duck’s roost. I thought they usually just sleep in bushes and weeds on the ground.

i think that is what they do naturally, yes. we live on a farm w/ critters like raccoons etc so i’m concerned about predtors getting them if they just sleep in the grass. i’ve read about people teaching ducks to roost but the only technique i’ve found (bribing them w/ food) isn’t working so i’m just looking for suggestions from people about if/how they’ve succeeded in teaching ducks to go into a coop at night.

 

[aart]

Don't think ducks 'roost' like chickens do.
But getting them to shelter in their coop would be good to keep them safe at night.
With chickens you leave them locked in the coop for a week or so before allowing to range so they 'home' to the coop...I would think that would work with ducks too?

 

[sourland]

'Herding' them into their pen/coop rather than physically catching them would probably work better. Teen aged ducklings tend to go through a spooky spell, and being caught and carried only adds to that paranoia that is instinctive in prey species.

 

[AngieMaesChix]

Ducks do not roost...if ur coop is big enough you can leave them in a few days and see if that helps them to know the coop is home and where you go at night...it takes time my Pekins took awhile to catch on so I had to help them for weeks...but they eventually got it...and would go on their own...also herding them with a long stick or something to get in the coop so you don’t have to pick them up could help...but ducks do not roost well except for I think it’s the Muscovy ducks I believe they do !! Best of luck I have 4 baby Rouens rn go outside next couple weeks as it will be warm enough I believe...honestly can’t wait lol I’ve got 19 birds in house rn 15 chicks and 4 ducks..wouldn’t change it for nothin tho

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

Not only do ducks not roost at all - except the Muscovies - it would just be outright dangerous to place them on a roost! Domestic ducks can't fly, their landing techniques are a case for the FAA and their leg-bones and -joints are their weak point. If you place one of your ducks on a roost it will fall down and may break a leg or a wing. Just don't do that.

 

[sehfergy]

op here-i would just like to clarify-i meant ”roost” to describe the act of retiring to a coop to sleep, NOT actually perching on a bar. sorry to confuse terms.

i recognize ducks are physically incapable of roosting & am not trying to make them roost, i just want them to go into their coop!

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

op here-i would just like to clarify-i meant ”roost” to describe the act of retiring to a coop to sleep, NOT actually perching on a bar. sorry to confuse terms.

i recognize ducks are physically incapable of roosting & am not trying to make them roost, i just want them to go into their coop!

That is a challenge! Even if my ducks want to go inside, their pride and stubbornness forbid them to admit that and go in by themselves. They always need an "invitation" from my side, sometimes, on lousy cold and windy days, i just come out to the patio and they all run into the house. But they would never have done so without my appearance.
Ducks are no chickens, no duck that i know would ever admit that it is better off inside over night, they only go inside to do you a favor.

 

[Kessel23]

Ducks will be actively moving around during the night. I set a trail cam up on my feeder to see what the birds do at night and the muscovies and mules were coming to the feeder from dusk till dawn. I did not test the MD ducks but I know they are active too.

Ducks don't sleep through the night like chickens do. If you do not herd them in and lock them in then they won't stay in.