TheChookKeeper Posted September 25, 2008 Share Posted September 25, 2008 Hello all! This one WILL be quick... I promise! I don't get home until 5:30pm at the latest, but more often about 6pm - obviously, with the evenings drawing in, I'm not getting home until it's been dark for an hour or two. What should I do with my ducks? My sister gets home (we live together!) ealier most days, so she can put them in when it gets dark, but 1 or 2 evenings a week, no-one will be home in time. What should I do? I have a FoxWatch, which is pointed toward the duck house - and I think they'll put themselves in, but obviously can't close the door! What would you do? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted September 26, 2008 Share Posted September 26, 2008 I would think they'd be fine - especially as you have a Foxwatch, just close the door as soon as one of you gets home. Our ducks don't go to bed - they seem to stay up all night.....quacking! They are behind electric fence though, so we don't worry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pickles Posted September 29, 2008 Share Posted September 29, 2008 i thik that you will find they will put themselves to bed when it gets dark. mine make loads of noise when they want to go to bed as they are in a sep run at the minute, only babies. we had some guest ducks staying with us and they used to put themselves to bed, they wouldnt go in until it was dark though, then i would go out and shut the peep hole. low and behold if i tried to get them in earlier, they werent having any of it. my chickens are the same put themself to dark just as it gets dark and i go out and shut up the door Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foreveryoung Posted October 2, 2008 Share Posted October 2, 2008 niether of mine put themselves to bed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheChookKeeper Posted October 2, 2008 Author Share Posted October 2, 2008 My 2 are usually very good girls, I go to put them to bed each evening, and they have learnt my hand signal beautifully, if I put my arms out (originally to "shepherd" them in, now just for dramatic effect!), they know it is time to go home. Otherwise, they just run away from me (I think they are both terrified of me). But today, they didn't WANT to go to bed... and I ended up having to herd them in how I used to when they first arrived - amidst much quacking and a lot of squarking from the chooks too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 23, 2008 Share Posted October 23, 2008 Hi I dont know how big your garden is or if it has a safe pond but my experience with ducks is that they will come down to their house as it gets darker but will not always go in like chickens do! If i was late back they would stay out all night on the pond(lake)..even if it was iced up If u know u r going to be late build them a secure compound/run with even a large water bowl(washing up bowl/old baby bath) better than mr fox getting them,thats what i use to do they will be fine left in ..as long as they can have some exercise etc : good luck indie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
