Thinking of getting some ducks... I have a question...

[Ratchnick]

 

[WhoDatChick]

Works best if you use the night time feeding, then lock then in.

Do you put the feed in the house..? And do you just leave food out at all times like for the chickens..? Or do you just feed once a day? I’ve had ducks but just don’t really remember... it’s like every time you have a new baby... you have no idea of what you did or how you did it...

 

[WhoDatChick]

This is great! Thank you so much for that!!

 

[Miss Lydia]

It’s always up to the individual about putting feed an water inside. Ducks are extremely messy and I for one don’t feed inside, once 6 weeks an older they can go all night without feed an water, mine do have food an water available all times a day during daylight and rarely do they eat like those ducks in that video. Training with treats is okay too and training by herding. Nothing at all wrong with reward for going into their enclosure in the evening. I use treats to bring mine in from foraging on their half acre too I can shake the can and they come running. If you can fence in around their enclosure(coop) that will really help, put their feed an water in there and then when they go into eat just close the gate then you can herd them on inside.

 

[WhoDatChick]

It’s always up to the individual about putting feed an water inside. Ducks are extremely messy and I for one don’t feed inside, once 6 weeks an older they can go all night without feed an water, mine do have food an water available all times a day during daylight and rarely do they eat like those ducks in that video. Training with treats is okay too and training by herding. Nothing at all wrong with reward for going into their enclosure in the evening. I use treats to bring mine in from foraging on their half acre too I can shake the can and they come running. If you can fence in around their enclosure(coop) that will really help, put their feed an water in there and then when they go into eat just close the gate then you can herd them on inside.

Thank you very much!

 

[johntfs]

Thanks... was planning on Cayuga... they don’t fly.. correct? I had one a few years ago that I kept in a two foot high dog pen.. he never got out..

Keeping the ducks from getting out is one part, but, honestly, your bigger concern is keeping predators from getting in.

 

[WhoDatChick]

Keeping the ducks from getting out is one part, but, honestly, your bigger concern is keeping predators from getting in.

Yes..thank you... that’s why I would lock em up at night.. you should see my chicken run/coop...

 

[DuckyDonna]

I don't put feed or water in my duck's pens either. Not once they are a couple of months old there is no need plus it makes cleaning up the pen so much easier with no water split all over the place to cause mold etc.

My 11 ducks have 2 big food buckets, 5 water buckets, and their pool outside all day long so there is no reason to put either in the pen at night unless it's extremely hot outside at which time I'll put water buckets in each pen.

My ducks have never hit their food buckets like those in that video. To me, they looked like they were starving!

 

[KaleIAm]

Yes..thank you... that’s why I would lock em up at night.. you should see my chicken run/coop...

I've seen a surprising amount of predators about during the day. My neighbor locked his ducks up at night and let them forage in his yard during the day. He had 3 ducks for a month. Maybe you have less predators where you live.

I bet my spunkiest duck could jump/fly over a 2 foot fence if I tempted her with mealworms.

I trained my ducks to go to bed at night on request for mealworms. But I have a close relationship with them. They are pets and eat out if my hand.

I don't give them food in their barn room because then I would have to give them water as well and they would make a big wet mess. If they weren't pets I would gently herd them to bed. And then gently throw some mealworms at them after they go in. They would probably eventually get the point and go to bed more willingly.

If you do get ducks again and find that they aren't the right choice for you please find them a new home. Releasing them on a pond is unkind as they need someone to protect and feed them.

 

[DuckyDonna]

I've seen a surprising amount of predators about during the day. My neighbor locked his ducks up at night and let them forage in his yard during the day. He had 3 ducks for a month. Maybe you have less predators where you live.

I bet my spunkiest duck could jump/fly over a 2 foot fence if I tempted her with mealworms.

I trained my ducks to go to bed at night on request for mealworms. But I have a close relationship with them. They are pets and eat out if my hand.

I don't give them food in their barn room because then I would have to give them water as well and they would make a big wet mess. If they weren't pets I would gently herd them to bed. And then gently throw some mealworms at them after they go in. They would probably eventually get the point and go to bed more willingly.

If you do get ducks again and find that they aren't the right choice for you please find them a new home. Releasing them on a pond is unkind as they need someone to protect and feed them.