Why won't my ducks use their tank anymore?

[corriemartin]

Last year, our duck's first year, they loved their tank. They swam and dunked in it all day long, deep into the winter (down to about 15F, in fact). We had a de-icer on it, and I had to put a board over the top to keep them from going in, but they still dunked their heads in it. But this winter not only have they not gone in it, they haven't even touched the water. During a couple of "deep-freeze" days, I've put the sheep in the duck yard (pictured here) and kept the sheep in the duck house (background) because they wouldn't have gone outside anyway, and the sheep were super-happy to have unfrozen water, so I think the water's okay. I've even changed it a few times, even though it's perfectly clear (unlike when the ducks were using it and it had to be changed out every couple of days because it turned into a muddy mess).

So what could be going on? I thought maybe that it was because the tank had been moved the the edge of their yard and perhaps they perceived that as dangerous somehow (though they'll take naps right against the fence.). But a couple days ago I moved it into the middle of the yard, and they STILL haven't touched it. Same tank, same ramp, same everything, and they're not even drinking out of it. Any ideas?

 

[ruthhope]

Hi @corriemartin
Have you changed the ramp to the tank? Maybe the ducks don't like that grill ramp undern their feet

 

[corriemartin]

Hi @corriemartin
Have you changed the ramp to the tank? Maybe the ducks don't like that grill ramp undern their feet

Nope--it's been like that all along. But they're not even going up to it and drinking out of it, which they also ALWAYS have done.

 

[shawluvsbirds]

Nope--it's been like that all along. But they're not even going up to it and drinking out of it, which they also ALWAYS have done.

Perhaps something has scared them while they were in it or near it. I could also see a duck's foot slipping through that wire ramp and getting stuck. That would be enough to scare them all away from it for a good long time.

 

[sowNreap]

By any chance might the de-icer have caused the water to get electrified? Short in it or surge or something? Not sure what type of de-icer you have but is it possible one or more might have got burned by it, say while dunking their head in. I know how they like to root around under water.

 

[shawluvsbirds]

By any chance might the de-icer have caused the water to get electrified? Short in it or surge or something? Not sure what type of de-icer you have but is it possible one or more might have got burned by it, say while dunking their head in. I know how they like to root around under water.

I was gonna mention that but they said the sheep drank from it.

 

[sowNreap]

Oh yea. Forgot about that part.

 

[corriemartin]

By any chance might the de-icer have caused the water to get electrified? Short in it or surge or something? Not sure what type of de-icer you have but is it possible one or more might have got burned by it, say while dunking their head in. I know how they like to root around under water.

I thought about that, but nothing when I stuck my hand in, or when the sheep drank from it.

And I've never seen any of them come even close to getting their feet stuck in the ramp mesh.

It's just weird, and it's been pretty much all winter, and if I put their food bowl near to it, they don't eat out of there either. So probably something happened..... (Though, then, why would they take afternoon naps over there?)

 

[shawluvsbirds]

I thought about that, but nothing when I stuck my hand in, or when the sheep drank from it.

And I've never seen any of them come even close to getting their feet stuck in the ramp mesh.

It's just weird, and it's been pretty much all winter, and if I put their food bowl near to it, they don't eat out of there either. So probably something happened..... (Though, then, why would they take afternoon naps over there?)

Ducks are just weird!
Probably one day they'll up and decide it's ok again

 

[shawluvsbirds]

I thought about that, but nothing when I stuck my hand in, or when the sheep drank from it.

And I've never seen any of them come even close to getting their feet stuck in the ramp mesh.

It's just weird, and it's been pretty much all winter, and if I put their food bowl near to it, they don't eat out of there either. So probably something happened..... (Though, then, why would they take afternoon naps over there?)

What kind of ducks do you have?