training ducks to go into the hut

[hearthnsoul]

Mine greatfully go in at night with the chicks,...well until we got goats of course. Now the goats, especially the 4 week old make a game out of barring the ducks from the coop. SO now we have to pull the goats out so the ducks can run in,..then let the goats in and shut it up quick or the ducks run back out. Once they are all in they are fine with eachother,...chickens, just so easy they walk around the goats and laugh at the ducks, see ya later,...maybe

 

[smurfboe]

HI. I've been checking out this blog for a bit now, and had to reply to this post.

I'm amused because I thought I was the only one with rebelious ducks. My five are three months old. I use a walking stick and hold it out sideways just within eyesight but not so close as to make them think they are going to get hit. I herd them every night at dusk as well.

Every morning when I pass my kitchen window (probably 50 yards from the pen) they see me and begin quacking (hmm, not sure you could call it quacking tt's more like yelling.) for me to come bring them lettuce.

 

[Dances with Ducks]

Quote:
Sounds like a circus as much as a rodeo!

 

[GrannySue]

My runners put themselves to bed last night!

Usually I go out at dusk and when they see me coming they get up and herd together. No running, just teasing but I don't really have to chase them. I just follow them at a distance putting my hand out to send them in the other direction.

Soon I'll have a new henhouse because things were getting just a bit crowded. Clever me, I've decided to keep the ducks in the present one and move the chickens instead.

 

[tdkmom]

I had already replied to this one but I have a question. One of the ducks seems to be getting the idea of going up the ramp but twice now has slid off the side. Is our ramp too skinny? it's 11 1/2 inches wide. I was thinking solar lights that come on at night running up the side of it might help keep them on it. Kind of like run way lights?

 

[FrenchHen]

Put up a little rope fence on the gangplank. Then paint the hut like a cruise ship.

I have no idea if that's a good idea or not, but it sounded cool.

 

[Myra]

We had to put "sides" on our ramp as it was too pathetic watching the 3-month old pekins plop off onto their backs over and over!

 

[tdkmom]

Oh I agree! I feel awful when they do that! Maybe I'll do a little picket fence going up the side to go with the cottage look of the coop! Gonna talk to DH now. I'm the idea person. He's the builder! Haha!

 

[Duck mama]

Sooooo.... we have adopted an entire flock of ducks, 14 in all (we had 16 but sadly 2 did not survive). My amazing husband saw my eyes light up when wild ducks would fly in to spend the day at our pond. So we did what I thought was a lot of research, but now I know it was not nearly enough! I have been fairly successful at training the ducks to leave the coop and walk into a small play yard which includes a baby pool, and some days they even make the return journey back to their coop without too much of a rodeo. My question is this. How do I know when to let these much loved ducks go explore the "real" pond? I'm so worried that I will let them out and they won't know to come back.

 

[ducks1959]

I just spent two hours at my duck rodeo trying get my ducklings to go inside. It finally worked after two hours. It was traumatizing to all of us. I think i am to just start feeding and watering them in thier hut with access to it all day. Their green peas will only be fed in the hut I hope this works. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Tom