[Dizzycow]

Help! I'm desperately trying to catch three of my eight Indian Runners to sell to someone who is collecting them tomorrow. They're on a pond, and I've made a corral to feed them into. That works, but I can't get close enough to pen them in, they dash of in a blind panic and back onto the pond. Any suggestions as to how I can catch the bloody things? I've now wasted the entire morning. 

[robert waddell]

hello vikki   a piece of fence wire formed into the shape of a Sheppard's crook so you can catch there leg simples

[Dizzycow]

I'll give it a go, Robert, thanks. Getting close enough to them might be a problem though. I'm exasperated!

[robert waddell]

duck for dinner tonight then

[Dizzycow]

Only if I shoot them...!

[Sylvia]

Try herding them with a long bamboo cane into an outhouse. Do it very quietly and gently and it may work, good luck.

[Dizzycow]

I will do, however they just keep going back to the bloody pond, and I can't get them out. It's quite a way to the nearest shed. Helllppppp!

[colliewoman]

where do they roost? if its off the water, just wait till dark and pick them up when they are asleep its the only way i  can catch my muscovies

[Dizzycow]

Ooooh, really? Won't they wake up and panic and dash off? If not, that sounds like an excellent plan. They roost on the side of the pond. I'll give it a whirl tonight - so far nothing has worked!

[colliewoman]

All i can say is mine don't!
gotta be worth a try if you haven't caught them before dark!
let it get dark though, not just after sunset. i catch mine at about half seven this time of year if i have to do something to them
they are slightly thick when sleepy!

[CameronS]

Thankfully mine all behave 

but i know my neighbours down the road, use a large fishermans net to catch them, providing you can reach the middle of the pond

[Sylvia]

I was going to suggest a net, but you have to quick and accurate 

[Sandy]

I used to find it hard to catch mine as well but we do have a shed and a door so I just tricked them into the shed with food then caught them....Ducks are very hard to catch, you need a few people!! No ducks now though as they were far too noisy!!

[Mel]

I do not envy you,how are you getting on? I sold my runners last year,they were just the worst nightmare to catch-I could not believe how fast the run-hence runner i s'pose 

In the end was had two lengths of weldmesh and cornered them,then I had to go over and round them up.Still,this took us ages and even though they are lovely,charming and all the rest of it,I am actually pleased they have gone to a more suitable home!

[MAK]

The 2 of us use an old thick curtain ( the dog thinks he helps too) to round up our muscovies then dive on one with the curtain to smother it and thus subdue it. They are difficult to catch so we settle for whatever duck is slowest ot the most stupid. I have never caught all of them sleeping and they never go in their duck house at night - besides catching them in the dark and mud with their baths full of water smacks of ITS A KNOCKOUT.
Tell us how you caught them please.
Good luck.
Martin