when and how to start free ranging Ducks?

[lkistamas]

So, I have 9 , 5 weeks old ducks that I hatched myself. THis is the first time having ducks. I also have 6 chickens that are free ranged, then at night they go back to the coop on their own. Now I am nervous to let the ducks out because I don't know if they will go back to their cop at night, and I am afraid that something might get them at night. I already purchased the "how to raise ducks book but it does not talk about what to do to get them back home at night. Any suggestion and advise greatly appreciated!

 

[Squiggs]

I'm also curious on when the best age to start free ranging ducks is. I feel like we might have been overly cautious the first time I helped raise ducklings since they didn't start free ranging until 10 weeks.

As for coming in at night, I've personally found ducks to be better than expected about heading to their coop while also incredibly unreliable to count on. Depending on the daylight hours/season, the ducks would either wait right outside their coop for us to lock them up or already be nestled in. Broody hens may straggle so you'll always want to count your ducks. They can't be trusted with automatic doors so I expect you'll have to herd them to bed every day yourself.

I always had a repeated word and gesture every time I wanted them to go to bed and they learned quite quickly what it meant!

 

[TSOWOATNKC]

Ducks herd pretty darn well if you get the alpha going the right direction in my experience.

 

[chickens really]

I free range my Ducks a few hours each day. I will let young Ducklings out to forage at around 5 weeks. I say bedtime and use a long stick to guide them back to their Run..

 

[jmoschner]

Giving them treats or their evening meal inside or near their coop before bed time often helps.
Keeping a routine helps. Once you get a routine established they will put themselves to bed most of the time.

 

[Michael P]

Depending on the weather and how safe your free range area is, you could start free ranging your ducks now. I don't give mine full free range at first. Instead I put up a temporary fence around a smaller area that they can go to directly from their coop. Unless frightened, ducklings are pretty timid about how far they will go from their coop at first.

Holderread describes using a strong flashlight with a focused beam to herd ducks after sunset. With a little practice it works very well. My Welsh Harlequins are pretty good about returning to their coop on their own, but sometimes need a little persuasion.

I suspect that one reason people have difficulty with free range ducks going back in the coop at night is that the ducks don't like the design of the coop. In my experience, chickens will use ramps, small entry doors, and coops raised off the ground--after all, they want to roost in trees. But ducks don't, except for some Muscovies. They like wide doors and coop floors at ground level.

 

[chickens really]

Ummm...? I have runs around my Duck houses. Free ranging is outside of the runs.

 

[Michael P]

My set-up is a little different than most. The coop or night pen is fully enclosed but larger than typical. There is no run separate from the free range area, unless I use a temporary one with young ducklings or new birds.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I like the idea of gradually letting them have their free range that way they can be trained better to come home. Small increments at a time.

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

Depending on the weather and how safe your free range area is, you could start free ranging your ducks now. I don't give mine full free range at first. Instead I put up a temporary fence around a smaller area that they can go to directly from their coop. Unless frightened, ducklings are pretty timid about how far they will go from their coop at first.

Holderread describes using a strong flashlight with a focused beam to herd ducks after sunset. With a little practice it works very well. My Welsh Harlequins are pretty good about returning to their coop on their own, but sometimes need a little persuasion.

I suspect that one reason people have difficulty with free range ducks going back in the coop at night is that the ducks don't like the design of the coop. In my experience, chickens will use ramps, small entry doors, and coops raised off the ground--after all, they want to roost in trees. But ducks don't, except for some Muscovies. They like wide doors and coop floors at ground level.

Probably suggests the flashlight because it will freak the ducks out - maybe enough to go into their homes.
One night I went out to my duck area and turned my headlamp on, they scattered like there was a monster out there to get them.
I have a larger door opening, plenty of ventilation, and just a little set of landscape blocks in front of the door because the coop is built onto a pallet. My ducks originally put themselves to bed and now they have decided they would rather stay outside.
I think that is just how ducks are. Mine will go in now because I tell them to. Maybe in winter they will choose to go in on their own, but for now they prefer outside. They will sleep in the doorway throughout the day though.