When will I beable to trust my ducks to roam outside the pen.

[ZoeS95423]

I have had my ducks outside for a few days in their pen. Its about 8ft by 23ft. They Love Love Love to be outside, but I almost have to force them to go in their coop when the sun is setting. Their pen is new, and we had to rake out so its very very muddy. And I feel bad. But they dont seem to mind at all. I wish I could let them run around outside the pen, so that their pen area can get some green. They have a small "pond" which is really a old water trough we have burried in the ground. Is them getting dirty bad for them? I feel like I read somewhere that mud is very bad for their feathers. But Im not completely sure. So, how long do you think I should wait until I can let them free roam my yard?

 

[duck&chickencrazy]

how old are your ducks? do they still have some down if they are younger ducks?

 

[ZoeS95423]

They are about a month or so old. they are almost completely white, they are pekins. They have a little bit of yellow left on them. Im just worried, if I let them roam free, I wont be able to get them back in the coop.

 

[Dingleberry]

mine are about that old and I let mine wander. We just pick one of them up and the other one follows.

 

[duck&chickencrazy]

well I wouldn’t let them loose in your yard to roam free until they are at least fully feathered...but until then you can coax them into your coop with treats and while doing that call to them or whistle or something...so that they begin to understand that when you call to them to come into the coop they will eagerly go to the coop to get treats...so that way you wont have to worry about catching them every time you let them go...I personally have never tried this but I have heard that it works

 

[ZoeS95423]

Okay, I do the tongue clicky noises, and it kind of gets their attention, and they dont seem as scared. I also try talking to them softly, I feel crazy sometimes trying to talk to my ducks So will the mud in their pen hurt their feathers? I do have some hay in their, cause I dont like my white ducks having brown bellies. Its almost like I should have just gotten pigs Hahah

 

[duck&chickencrazy]

na it shouldnt hurt them as long as they have somewhere that they can clean themselves (your "pond" will work perfectly! I also use a converted horse trough) and yes ducks are super messy

gets worse when it rains because they just have a ball playing in the mud and water...but they are still super cute

 

[ZoeS95423]

Yes they are adorable

I only worry when my Khakis get bigger, and I introduce the Pekins to the Khakis, This always worries me. But my Boyfriend is a chicken Fanatic, and I guess introducing ducks is the same as introducing Chickens? It was raining today, and I sat inside for like 2 hours just looking out the window watching my ducks people think Im crazy, but they are such funny and amusing little guys

 

[duck&chickencrazy]

I know what ya mean I could sit and watch my birds for hours...they are so funny

when I introduce new birds to each other I leave the new ones in a cage with the old birds for a good 2 or 3 days and then I let the new birds out and I very rarely have any problems...I do that so they can see the new birds get to know them and such without actually touching or hurting them since they are in a cage...I do the same with both ducks and chickens

 

[ZoeS95423]

Okay, Sounds good, I still have a few more weeks so its okay. Cause my pekins are about a month old, and my khakis are only like a few days, they are only like 3 inches tall