My ducks won't go in their house at night - help!

[MiDuck]

I have two ten week old Muscovy, one ten week old shell duck and two point of lay ducks being a khaki Campbell and an aylesbury. We have a very long millpond and they are obviously getting a lot to eat out of the pond. The three young ducks will eat some wheat now and again but the older ones aren't interested in it. The younger ones also come quite close but the older ones won't come near. I leave food down in the house and leave the door open and I don't really know if they are going in during the daytime. I would love to be able to shut them in the house at night to keep them safe and also to collect the eggs, but can't seem to get them anywhere near it. Does anyone have any ideas? Please help me

[Davidd]

Hello and welcome I have moved your post to this form.
If the pond doesn't have an island- then I would try and lock them up if you can- otherwise Mr Fox will come along eventually Can you not pen them in the house and attach a run for a few weeks- once they get used to the idea they should be ok- the muskovies and the shell duck especially will not want to be locked up. Is the shell duck pinioned? As it will fly and so will the muskovies if female (the males get too big to get off the ground) you need to get them used to it now before they become adults as then they will never go in. My muskovies fly all over but they are always waiting for me to feed and put them in at night- they are creatures of habit- it will be hard at first and very frustrating but try and persevere - it will be worth it in the end
Regards, David

[andrea]

We've been hand feeding our Runners mealworms at bedtime,now when they hear the rattle of the pot,they eagerly follow it as I put it inside their house,tip the mealworms on the bedding & close the door,[trickery pay's], you can hear them chatter contently.They now go to bed even if I don't put a treat in.
Another way would be to put a trail of mealworms[or any of their fav treat] leading into their house,they will get the idea.

[MiDuck]

Thank you for your replies, I will keep persevering!

[Tim]

I say "Bed Ducks" when I put mine to bed and after a while they trot right in to their house without being hearded because they know the routine...

[Davidd]

I wont say what i shout at mine everynight - but it isn't bed ducks good job the neighbours aren't too near

[rita]

you are lucky to have a nice big area for them, i have an enclosure so it was easy to train them, now they go in on there own, but yes treats work wonders i use to lay down treat to get them back to the pen and they got use to being back there at a certain time. good luck hope it works.