Any Insight?

[J.R.]

My two Rouens ( both drakes ) will not leave their coop. It’s been three days now and while I’m not overly concerned as they have food and water in with them, I am curious about it. I’ve checked the plentiful mud in their run and I don’t see any tracks besides theirs. Do you think maybe they had a near miss with a hawk or Eagle?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Always a possibility do you have their run covered? That will keep most climbing or flying preds out if you secure what ever your using and put their food and water out side their coop so that gives them reason to come out. Are they eating?

 

[J.R.]

Run is uncovered. I’ve never had any problems before and didn’t think it was necessary as my boys are both big brutes and are secured in the coop overnight. I put their food in the coop to keep the birds and chipmunks from getting to it and typically leave their water outside of the coop 24/7 but just put it in when they stopped coming out. Maybe I’ll go back to my old way and remove it to see if it helps.

 

[J.R.]

Oh, and yes they’re eating maybe not quite as heavily as before but still an acceptable amount

 

[Miss Lydia]

I don’t put food an water inside over night too messy but if you do feed in their coop over night be sure to put water also. I wish I could tell you why they aren’t coming out if this isn’t normal for them do they have a pool to play in?

 

[J.R.]

I remove their food every night when I put them up and return it in the morning. They have a 350 gallon in ground pre formed plastic pond that they’re usually in the majority of the time. I appreciate you’re help. Like I said I’m not too concerned (yet) I’m just more curious than anything else if anyone else has had this happen before. It surely isn’t the first time they’ve done something I couldn’t quite wrap my head around!! Happy Easter everyone! sorry for neglecting to say it sooner!

 

[LilyLoo]

There might be a predator issue. Even a new neighbor cat or hawk that's moved in that you haven't seen yet. They could be afraid to come out, for whatever reason.

 

[DuckyDonna]

I bet its a predator issue too. It does not matter one single bit if your ducks are big. I made the mistake of thinking that too! A hawk or falcon will swoop down on them in a second, kill them in the duck run and start eating them right there while the other ducks run into their pen scared to death. First hand experience with that! It was my big drake too! Now there is netting on every bit of my duck run and I check it on a regular basis for any gaps or areas that need fixing.

 

[Miss Lydia]

If you have trees close by start looking up we are tree covered up here and one day I walked out to a huge red tail killing one of my bantams and saw another up in the tree. So my thinking that a lot of trees for shelter went out the window pretty fast.

 

[DuckyDonna]

If you have trees close by start looking up we are tree covered up here and one day I walked out to a huge red tail killing one of my bantams and saw another up in the tree. So my thinking that a lot of trees for shelter went out the window pretty fast.

Also, I was sitting in the duck run with mine like I do every night a couple nights ago and noticed that all 7 had their head tilted and were looking up towards the barn roof or the sky. I looked up and there were 2 big hawks circling. The ducks knew and it scared them. I've got netting thank God and I sure hope it works.