Training Ducks

[WMDAVIS99]

I am getting ready to release my ducks to a 1/4 acre pond in my yard. My question is how do I train them to come back when I want to put them in their pen at night?

They respond to peas, peas is their crack as we know, but was wondering what some tips or techniques are to get them to respond.

 

[JessHall]

I think that if you shut them into where ever they are supposed to go for a week or two, they will identify with that place as their home. However, I think ducks like to be out and about all the time... so maybe you'll have to herd them in at night. Good luck

 

[scooter147]

Here is what I did.

I first took an old coffee can and put scratch feed in it (my ducks favorite) and for a period of about a month I would put some scratch in the can and shake it so it made noise and said duckie, duckie, duckie. In a matter of a few days the ducks knew what the sound of the coffee can meant and would be standing at the side of their enclosure waiting for their treat.
After a month I let the ducks out and showed them the pond. In the evening I would go out shake the can and call and they would come running, go into their enclosure to feed and be locked up at night.
I NEVER fed them in the morning or any time during the day only in the evening when I wanted to lock them up for the night.
As a matter of fact it wasn't long before most of them were in their enclosure waiting to be fed before I even got out to do it in the evening.
I found ducks to be very trainable when it comes to getting them into a routine you want them to follow.
I have since moved from the "farm" but I do have two pet ducks now and live on 1 1/2 acres and each evening before dusk my two are standing at the coop door waiting to be put up for the evening. These two after a couple of "round ups" figured out what they were suppose to do in the evening and it has been a piece of cake ever since.

 

[WMDAVIS99]

That sounds like a good idea, they loves peas and recognize the container and come running now.

 

[duckboatprincess]

I kept mine caged for a while and would just let them out while I was there with them in the yard. Our pond is in the woods down a trail, so they never figured out that it was there until I brought them there. Once they figured out that the only time I fill there feeder when they're out is when I let them in, they learned to come in at night. Then, I'd let them stay out all day and just bring them in at night. So, in the morning they'd be bright eyed and bushy tailed when I came to let them out for the day and they stayed in the back yard near their pen. Once they had that figured out, I started taking two back to the pond and once the others heard their quacks, they'd all run down the trail. At night, I'd walk down there and they'd all follow me back. Now, I let them out in the morning and they wander around sometimes or they'll head straight for the pond. Sometimes they stay until dusks and lately they come back mid afternoon. When it's time to go in for the night, I walk out towards the pen behind them and herd them towards it. The usually will go right in unless they're feeling ornry and then I have to catch them.

 

[tonini3059]

Mine run around during the day and swim in my lake behind my house and come in on their own when it gets dark out. What kind of ducks are they? I did have some problems with my Mandies they wanted to stay on the lake.

 

[WMDAVIS99]

Quote:
Both are males, a Cayuga and a Blue Swedish.

When I let them out of their kennel, they do not wander far, even though they can see the pond they have not yet ventured that far. They tend to wander no more than 25 feet for their night pen. I have a small pool that is currently outside their pen that they love to swim in.

My plan is to let them out of their night pen in the morning, walk them to the pond, which I will enlose on three sides, (open to the water) and let the swim all day or hang on the side of the pond. I have another dog house for them to hide out in during the day by the side of the pond.

I am just looking at ways to get them to come in at night since I do not want to leave them out alone all night.

Last night I started training them. I took a small tupperware container and filled it with loose change. While they were out roaming I rattled the container. They looked at me, and I showed them a handful of Peas. They came running. I left them alone. Came back and rattled the container again, they looked, saw the peas and came running. By the end of the training they were heading towards me when they heard the coins rattling, because they already figured out that noises means Crack errr I mean Peas!

 

[mountainchick]

I too just got 2 Rowen Mallard's. They will be ready to put into a pen with a pond in about a week. In the winter I want to keep them with my chicken's. Any advice? Does it work? Do they beat each other up? I too am wondering if they will go back into their coop at night after a day of free ranging?

 

[scooter147]

I have just two ducks a male and a female.
Mine shelter with the chickens in the winter with no problems. As long as there is no snow on the ground the ducks spend the day outside.
The only problem I have is with the male duck and that is in the spring and summer. He is constantly trying to mate with the chickens (this is not a problem in the winter) if given the opportunity and he is extremely rough about it. So, I solved that problem by making him stay in a dog crate when they are put up with the chickens at night. When I let them in the coop at night he goes directly to his "bedroom" and I lock him in. It only took him about three tries and he learned where he needed to go each night when I let them in.