Why won't they stay outside?

[1duckychick]

I have 6 ducks, about 10 weeks old, 2 mallards, 2 runners and 2 rouens. They will stay outside most of the day in the yard but and all day on the back deck but, like clockwork, by 745pm they are banging and quacking at the screen deck door to come in. When they're in the backyard they squeeze through the fence and come around to the front door and bang and quack to come in (since they can't fly back up to the deck they know to come to the front door, cut through the house, and get back on the deck).

We have a pen outside with a coop for them. They'll play in the pen but won't go in their coop. But they freak out when we close the pen door and walk away and they REALLY freak when we leave them out past dark.

How can I get these guys acclimated to full-time outdoor living? Or is it too late in the game?

 

[chilly]

you should try to "sheperd" them into their coop with your arms outstreched. if that does'nt work try leading them with treats, mine love sweetcorn, just try sprinkling their path to the coop, they'll soon get the idea,

ducks aint that bright

 

[goosedragon]

Quote:
Either feed in the coop or just outside. when the food is gone its nite-nite time, herd them in and close the door. they won't like it but they will get used to it.

 

[sweet tweets]

But first get video and try for the Funniest Video cash awards!

 

[1duckychick]

Quote:
It's not so much the "getting them in" as it is the "convincing them to stay in and quit quacking so darn loud the neighbors ears start bleeding and stop banging at the fencing with their bills/heads until they give themselves concussions"!

And I gotta disagree about the "ain't so bright" part - mine are a helluva lot smarter then any other pet I've ever had. Hell, they're more routine oriented then my own kids!

 

[kcardella]

They do love their routines

Now, you just need to give them a new one! They will get the hang of it.

Mine hung around the back door all day, every day for a few weeks, but eventually started wandering more. They still come running when I go outside, and will occasionally hang out by the door, but it's much better now.

 

[chilly]

Ducky,
I got kids and would put my 4 week old ducks in a contest against them and bet on the ducks

admitedley step kids

 

[buck431397]

its so cute that they want to live in your house with you! they love you!

 

[Dances with Ducks]

I'm guessing they feel safer inside with you. Mine used to like to stay out in their pen until late and I would have to encourage them into their duckhouse so they were locked up safe. But for a few weeks now they get into their duckhouse when it starts to get dark. I was pretty sure they had seen a raccoon or fox and were feeling unsafe. Today I found a place where a fox or raccoon has been sleeping in the backyard knocking down some sunflowers and parsnips that were growing by the fence.