How to make adult ducks not afraid of me and stay through winter

[doublecrossranch]

Domestic ducks can't really fly away, yes they can »jump a fence« and won't drop to the ground like a rock, but they will not fly away south.
Do you offer duck-food and water for them? If not, start now. Place a feeder in their area and move it into the direction of the chicken run every day a bit. Hand out treats, meal-worms and peas are my ducks favorites.
For the winter: Duck are much harder than chickens, if they have a spot where they stay dry and out of the wind they will be fine.
Chickens and Ducks in the same coop requires some thinking: Ducks don't perch, chickens do, so if the ducks sleep under the roosts they will be pooped on over night and they won't like it. Also ducks release a lot of moisture during their sleep which may makes the chickens feel uncomfortable.

They can fly over my house. lol.

 

[Miss Lydia]

All of them? lol. I can’t imagine with all you just said why they’d want to leave if they could. Sounds like the perfect place!

 

[doublecrossranch]

When I clean out the chicken coop for winter we are going to make improvements. Insulate and put up interior walls to help with drafts. Poop boards so the ducks can nest underneath. My chicken coop is attached to my covered and fenced garden. I am going to cover the chicken run top and sides with clear tarps and ground with hay so they ducks feet stay healthy. I also plan to get deep heated pet bowls.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Sounds like a good plan. Let us know how it goes! Just make sure you have good ventilation especially up around ceiling so warm moist air gets out. This is for ducks and chickens. All poultry actually.

 

[doublecrossranch]

Current Duck area

 

[doublecrossranch]

Chicken run/coop/garden

 

[doublecrossranch]

All of them? lol. I can’t imagine with all you just said why they’d want to leave if they could. Sounds like the perfect place!

Just the one mallard. He hasn't left since. I still do a head count every night to make sure. lol

 

[Miss Lydia]

Oh good well sounds like he found out there’s no place like home then. lol. I do head counts every night too.

 

[chickens really]

That Duck pen would be just fine if you left them in there all winter. You can cover the chain link with vapour barrier plastic and put pine shavings and straw in the igloo and in a corner of the covered part of the pen.

 

[21hens-incharge]

A word of caution of I may.....

Your set up looks great!

Putting a tarp or plastic on top of the run will collect snow and rain. Both of those will add a tremendous amount of weight and destroy the run wire, the wood and be a big hazard to walk under.