Warmth causing ducks to be bad!

[Duckfarmer1]

Not sure I'm understanding completely. Did you take down that fencing you had in the summer?

Oh goodness no...it’s still up, about 25 feet from the barn. I suppose what you are now thinking...and what is now coming to me, is perhaps I should try herding them from the barn to the pen each morning and night? Hmmm I will do that. Definitely..I’m not being pessimistic..because that is not in my nature. I’m only throwing this out there because I know there are many of you with similar experiences. Right now I have a drake goose who’s causing issues. So, that always delays the herd. And a few others, that just make for a bumpy ride. I’ve rearranged my entire barn around the ducks.....and their needs have always trumped the others...I’m just worried because I do have a few females who won’t come in due to the drake woes we’ve had....but...Ihave changed things last week, and more to come this week. It means more drakes being gone. How do I convince these two, that the barn is ok again? The one sweetie I had to carry in two nights ago...and she won’t let me near her today.

 

[Duckfarmer1]

I know the struggle. I finally figured out how to get my ducks and geese out of the pond at bedtime:

Get a long rope, longer than your pond is wide. Our pond is about 50 feet wide. Get a helper. One person goes on one side of the pond with one end of the rope, and the other person is on the other side with the other end. Walk along the pond banks. The rope will sweep across the top of the water and sweep the ducks right out.

If your pond is small enough that one rope can span its entire width, this should work wonders.

Oh...ok...now I have to tell my hubby he has to either move the fence, or do the nighttime chores...hmmm...for the ducks’ sake...I hope he does the chores

 

[Miss Lydia]

Do you have anything’s these Muscovy females can get up an away from the drakes? My females once breeding season starts will get up an roost and the drake rarely goes up on their roost since he’s too lazy.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Attach some of the plastic fencing to your fenced in area you already have all the way to the barn that way they are not able to get away from you and easier for you to get them into the barn at night.

 

[ValerieJ]

Ok, but it might be shakey while I’m taking the video.... That’s what I said to Chris...about keeping them locked up...he said..no , since they only get a few nice days in winter... BUT...he’s not the one doing the work....hmmmm. Perhaps I’ll have to overrule his input? That is...if they ever come back in the barn???

And you are the one worrying about it.

 

[Duckfarmer1]

Do you have anything’s these Muscovy females can get up an away from the drakes? My females once breeding season starts will get up an roost and the drake rarely goes up on their roost since he’s too lazy.

Yes, we had this piece of fence put in for the mini pig I though5 I was going to put in there over Christmas week... I saw that the girls liked it so I left the one rail up. Then, I put Sami up on top the rabbit hutches the other night...but then I took her down...I’m not sure if it’s a good idea to promote her flying that high inside the barn...She does go inside this thing we built catch the rabbits Pooh...I know it sounds gross...but, I try to get her down...it’s higher than the fence rail by just a few inches and they touch...she hops from one to the other. The poop catcher is made of tin and now I keep it lined in fresh hay, just for her. I even put a food bowl in there two nigh5 ago so she wouldn’t have to come down. I’m getting rid of another Muscovy male I think. Mi hate this..I hate this. I hate this. But I cannot see my ducks suffer! Her blue eyes are just so sad. I was just keeping her in the grain room...but, I can’t have her pooping it all up..

 

[Duckfarmer1]

Attach some of the plastic fencing to your fenced in area you already have all the way to the barn that way they are not able to get away from you and easier for you to get them into the barn at night.

I think I’m going to drink some gaitoraide and try it!!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Oh gosh I forgot your sick. Maybe ask for help?

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

Whenever we have one of those unusual warm days my ducks are driving me nuts in the evening. They just refuse to go into their house:
One of these days… and Another one of these days…
The last resort is my »flashlight of doom«, a strong LED lamp that plots a bright spot on the ground. It scares them so much they stumble downhill and into the house.
You could try that or a laser-pointer.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I’d like a video of that screaming ducks running as fast as those widdle legs will take them from monster light of doom.