My Ducks Haven't Heard the phrase"like a duck to water"

[andrearing]

We have 5 1/2 week old pekin ducks. They were raised indoors, swam every day in the sink, were introduced to our backyard lake at 4 weeks, and repeatedly since then, but they HATE the water. What gives? any advice? We are worried about neighborhood dogs since they don't have a safe place to escape to.

[bbomber]

My pekin drakes use to run down to my creek. When I got each his own baby pool, they don't want to go to the creek anymore. I've tried. I have no idea why. Maybe they feel safer in the pool, and each duck knows which pool is his. Cute.

[jrorer]

Sometimes if that is the only water source they have they will get accustomed to it. Unless it is too far away from where they normally wander. If they have discovered it, maybe try to take away their bowls of water.

[Evy]

Even if you can get ducks to go into a large pond or lake, they prefer to dabble around the edges. They may have sensed danger in the water in the form of snappers, mink, herons or even large fish. I never realized I had a huge snapper in my pond until several birds disappeared & the rest refused to do more than take a quick bath at the very edge.
BTW: a lake is no protection from dogs or other predators. If you let them range, eventually you're going to loose them.

[tinag210]

Just had the snapper problem myself this week. Noticed one day none of my ducks were getting in the pond. I sat down by the pond awhile and watched and sure enough after awhile I spotted a turtle. My husband was able to shoot and kill it, but the ducks are still leary of going in the water. Last time this happened it took awhile before they felt safe enough to go in.