[Blueeyes]

Hi, sorry yet more questions about my ducks, we have inherited 4 Swedish blue ducks from someone who couldn't looks after them anymore and have built a fab enclosure with a sunken pond with filter and then a separate solid paddle pool that can be emptied and cleaned regularly, they also have a house that the previous owner gave to us along with the ducks but... I'm not happy that the whole enclosure isn't covered, I arent sleeping as I'm worried about foxes getting into them! 

So I'm looking at getting another enclosure that is completely covered that they can go in on a night and be safe but that connects to the other open enclosure for during the day, so my question is (almost embarrassed to be asking this as it seems such a stupid question  ) can ducks waddle up small ramps into a house? Seen a fabulous hen house but it has a slight ramp into the house compartment and although it says it's for any hens, ducks etc I'm sure I read on here that ducks struggle with the ramps?!?

Thanks as always for reading and responding! 

Blueeyes xx

[Mel]

Morning 

I have some old chicken coops-the small types which my ducks use,one ramp is a bit high so I have built it up with rocks and slabs to lessen the incline. I have a hug steep rockery at one side of my pond and they always seem to be sitting on there.

One even lays her eggs there-but sometimes they chip when she drops them

Do your ducks go on to the pond at night only all my waterfowl do-I think they feel safest here on a night sleeping on the pond.I have an electric fence going around my entire paddock which foxes will not go anywhere near,my ducks free range all the time and touch wood,I have never had any problems-though neighbouring keepers have had their chickens and such taken by them...

[Blueeyes]

They don't sleep on the pond but do go for a swim every now and then    they lay their eggs in the house or just in the enclosure, I would be devastated if anything happened to them and I seem to spend all night checking on them - just as my daughter finally at 7yrs old starts sleeping through the night as well!

Someone said a fox should be put off coming onto our land as we have a terrier and they would scent tha and ot venture on but to be honest I don't want to take that risk, we built high fencing but I've seen foxes climb bloody high so think if they wanted to get in they would/could!

Blueeyes xx

[Sylvia]

You can train them to go in at night, after a fashion. "Herd" them with a long bamboo into the house each night at dusk. Mine see me coming now and go into the house (up a ramp) They will be safe enough then and you can get a good night's sleep

[doganjo]

I wouldn't guarantee foxes being put off by a dog altogether.   We had foxes in our own fields at my last home and I had 8 dogs then - 6 out in kennels which barked at  the scent of a fox. Didn't stop them nosing around our 6 foot fenced chicken compound.

My ducks and hens down here are shut in their sheds at night, except that the ducks have access to a great dane sized dog cage with water available to drink - ahem  puddle in.  So I keep them safe at night just in case.  Never seen any foxes around here but there's a farm across the bypass so wouldn't be surprised, but my dogs are running around the paddock most of the time.

One of my dogs is duck daft and given any opportunity gets in the pen and retrieves them to hand (just as he was trained to do  )- they have got used to it so wouldn't put up much of a fight to a fox.

[Blueeyes]

Thanks guys, going to buy one of those large chicken houses and run enclosures so they are totally safe at night and yep have a good nights sleep  , who's betting my daughter then stops sleeping through the night again 

Blueeyes xx

[Sylvia]

Put her n with the ducks

[Blueeyes]

  Sylvia she would soon scare away the foxes!!! We've threatened to put her in the stable with the ponies before but she seemed quite excited about that! 

Blueeyes xx