What's this head bobbing?

[Debby Duck]

Have you trained them to come when you call yet? If you haven't, you may want to consider it for a way to get them to come off the lake and back to you when you want them to.

I did this with my ducks by making the same noise when I feed them mealworms. I say, "come here ducks," and I quack. Then I slowly starting doing it further and further away. Now my ducks will come running to me when I call them from anywhere, even if we go to the pond. I always reward them with mealworms so they will keep coming when I call. You could make any noise as long as it is consistent and what you want to be calling out across your lake for years.

We did! My husband does this funny sounding duck call. And I say, here duck duck. Followed by come on babies. That last one I use a lot when I know they hear me, are close, but being reluctant. Like now when we're trying to coax them into the new coop. They used to come right up to the porch around 5:30 each day. Ready to have dinner and come in for the night. Now we have to call them in. They're not crazy about it yet, but grapes help.

We started teaching them right away when we got them. We figured we'd need to do that since they roam free in the day and it's a decent size pond.
They always respond to it. In fact they come running out of the water and up to us anytime we walk outside. At least for now. And it's probably because they want treats! A lot of times we have been bringing either Mazuri or mealworms to throw out into the water getting them to go further out. And I like giving some by hand just to keep them close.

 

[Debby Duck]

Especially with winter coming up.
The last thing you want to be doing is trying to get out on a half frozen lake to catch ducks.

Depends on where you live I guess.

South Florida! And it's still hot here!

 

[Debby Duck]

How many times do you feed each day and how soon before your ducks come in at night?

We feed around 5 and don't put water in the coop at night. But it seems like such a long time until they eat at 7or 8 the next morning. Also one of them pants and breathes heavy a lot. I feel like I should give them a little water. My husband disagrees.

 

[Anime2lover]

Tomatoes are another duck and chicken favorite. My ducks will fight over the tomato pieces we give.

 

[shawluvsbirds]

How many times do you feed each day and how soon before your ducks come in at night?

We feed around 5 and don't put water in the coop at night. But it seems like such a long time until they eat at 7or 8 the next morning. Also one of them pants and breathes heavy a lot. I feel like I should give them a little water. My husband disagrees.

In my call duck pen I don't make them go in at night unless it's really cold so they have food all the time. But that's not really necessary.
My cayuga ducks aren't in an enclosed pen so they get let out early around 7am feed them, and I lock them up at dusk. No food or water in their houses.

 

[shawluvsbirds]

My call duck pen is covered and all hardware cloth. That's the only reason they can be left out.

 

[KaleIAm]

We did! My husband does this funny sounding duck call. And I say, here duck duck. Followed by come on babies. That last one I use a lot when I know they hear me, are close, but being reluctant. Like now when we're trying to coax them into the new coop. They used to come right up to the porch around 5:30 each day. Ready to have dinner and come in for the night. Now we have to call them in. They're not crazy about it yet, but grapes help.

We started teaching them right away when we got them. We figured we'd need to do that since they roam free in the day and it's a decent size pond.
They always respond to it. In fact they come running out of the water and up to us anytime we walk outside. At least for now. And it's probably because they want treats! A lot of times we have been bringing either Mazuri or mealworms to throw out into the water getting them to go further out. And I like giving some by hand just to keep them close.

Well done! That's going to be very useful! And adorable. I just love it how my ducks come when I call them.

My ducks are on a year-around strict 10 hour daylight schedule prescribed by a veterinarian to reduce reproductive activity. They get fed at 7:30am when they get let out of the barn, around noon (most days), and again at 5:00pm. They go to bed at 5:30pm. If we didn't have rats I would leave food out for them all day. If they could stay up later I would feed them again later, too.

I don't leave water in our barn because my ducks will just splash it all over their bedding. I put a lot of effort into keeping their barn room dry and free from mold. But if someone was panting I feel like I would have to reassess the situation.

My ducks also love tomatoes.

 

[Debby Duck]

Tomatoes are another duck and chicken favorite. My ducks will fight over the tomato pieces we give.

Same here. Although mine will fight over all treats. It's every duck for himself when it comes to treats.

 

[Debby Duck]

Well done! That's going to be very useful! And adorable. I just love it how my ducks come when I call them.

My ducks are on a year-around strict 10 hour daylight schedule prescribed by a veterinarian to reduce reproductive activity. They get fed at 7:30am when they get let out of the barn, around noon (most days), and again at 5:00pm. They go to bed at 5:30pm. If we didn't have rats I would leave food out for them all day. If they could stay up later I would feed them again later, too.

I don't leave water in our barn because my ducks will just splash it all over their bedding. I put a lot of effort into keeping their barn room dry and free from mold. But if someone was panting I feel like I would have to reassess the situation.

My ducks also love tomatoes.

Yep, I think we're going to have to do that. At least until they adjust to the new coop. Then maybe he won't pant so much. They're not hot I know that.

 

[KaleIAm]

Yep, I think we're going to have to do that. At least until they adjust to the new coop. Then maybe he won't pant so much. They're not hot I know that.

Oh, why do you think he's panting then? My ducks pant when they are hot or very stressed. One time when my duck had an egg stuck in her she was panting, but another time when she broke her leg she was not - so I'm confused if they pant when in pain or not. There could be more reasons ducks pant that I'm not aware of.

My ducks are shockingly sensitive about heat. If it is above 75 they'll be foraging in the shade. If it's above 85 Nettle will be panting - she's especially sensitive and also the one who gets stressed and pants during vet visits. My ducks seem to be a special kind of pansy duck. My doing I'm sure.