[zopadooper]

We have a pair of young call ducks that were kept for a couple of weeks in a pen with a house which we locked them in at night but we have now given the free roam of our large natural pond.  This is about 100m x 15m, surrounded by bull-rushes and has a small island and a floating duck house.  The problem is, they insist on sleeping in the rushes rather than using the house.   We have tried encouraging them into the pen in the early evening but they fight to escape and we feel that it is too early to lock them up for the night.  If we leave it later they disappear into the undergrowth.  We are worried that they will become prey to foxes etc.  Should we be worried and can anyone help us as to what we can do to overcome the problem.

[Kate and her Ducks]

They always seem t prefer to sleep out given the choice. I have had mine fr years and they still have to be walked in at night. They g withut a fuss but if I don't shoo them in they happily sit ut all night and they will get eaten if you give anything the chance. Trust me, painful personal experience.

It will be a pain in the bum for a while while they get used to the routine but they will settle in to knwing they have to go to bed when you say so.

Don't leave them out. They will get eaten!

[zopadooper]

Thanks for you help.  How big should my duck house be?  Mine is about 24 inches square with a pitched roof about thesame height.  It seems very small for 2 ducks to be caged up for what could be 15 hours a day in the winter yet the seller said it was ideal for 4.

[Kate and her Ducks]

A square foot each is fine for the house but the need more space obviously for the run. At least a metre square each.

Sorry for all the illiteracy of the last post. A problem with the O key!