Quackoria Play
Duck Herder
Ducks scatter, the clock ticks and only you and one very keen sheepdog can get the whole flock into the pen. Nudge, circle and waddle them home!
Ducks scatter, the clock ticks and only you and one very keen sheepdog can get the whole flock into the pen. Nudge, circle and waddle them home!
Duck Herder is a top-down herding game where you steer a sheepdog and the ducks do the rest, fleeing from the dog and drifting together as a flock. It runs in the browser with nothing to install and works with a keyboard or a single thumb on a phone. Unlike the other Quackoria games, you never control the ducks directly; you win by reading how they react and moving the dog to the right spot.
How to Play
- Press Herd to start. Your dog stands at the bottom of the field and the pen with its open gate is at the top.
- Move the dog toward the ducks. Any duck that gets close to the dog runs the other way.
- Come at the flock from below so the ducks scurry up toward the gate, then swing left or right to line them up.
- Once every duck is inside the pen and stays put for one second, the level is complete.
- Each level up to the ninth adds ducks, ponds and bushes, a narrower gate and less time; after that the field is as hard as it gets. Time up means game over.
- Score ten points per penned duck plus one point for every second left on the clock.
Controls
Desktop
- Arrow keys or W A S DMove the dog around the field
- RRestart the game
- MToggle sound on or off
Mobile
- Press and hold anywhereThe dog runs toward your finger
- Drag while holdingSteer the dog as it runs
- ReleaseThe dog stops where it is
Gameplay tips
- Approach slowly from the far side of the flock. Charging straight in splits the ducks and sends them everywhere.
- Ducks already in the pen are calmer, but if the dog stands right in the gateway they can still slip back out. Guard from a step below the gate.
- Use ponds and bushes as walls. Ducks steer around them, so pushing a group along the edge of a pond keeps them bunched.
- The time bonus adds up fast. On early levels, finish quickly rather than perfectly to bank extra seconds.
About the game
Duck Herder is a top-down herding game where you steer a sheepdog and the ducks do the rest, fleeing from the dog and drifting together as a flock. It runs in the browser with nothing to install and works with a keyboard or a single thumb on a phone. Unlike the other Quackoria games, you never control the ducks directly; you win by reading how they react and moving the dog to the right spot.
Frequently asked questions
Why do the ducks run away from the dog?
That is the whole trick. Ducks flee whenever the dog comes close, so you position the dog behind them to push the flock toward the pen gate.
What happens when the timer runs out?
The game ends and your score is saved as your best if it beats the old one. Press Herd or the R key to start again from level one.
Can ducks get stuck behind a pond or a bush?
No. Ducks steer around obstacles and are gently pushed out if they ever touch one, so the flock can always reach the pen.
Does Duck Herder work on a phone?
Yes. Press and hold on the field and the dog runs toward your finger; drag to steer and let go to stop.
