Ducks refusing to go to coop

[Chickiemom25]

ok I have 4 muscovies that have been cooped at night since I got them about 3 months ago. I have 2 who are loose at night ( one because the 2 drakes fight in the coop , and the other because she was sitting on a nest and it took me 4 weeks to find her and the nest and she has the taken the ducklings to the pond away from the cats since they hatched). At least one more hen is laying eggs and she lays in the nest inside the coop daily. however, the 4 ducks from the coop have decided now to sleep at the pond at night. I cant get them because as soon as I come out they go for the water. Last night they came up to the coop for dinner and I managed to close the drake and one hen inside. I thought he was going to hurt himself flying up and crashing into the door (never seen that behavior before) so I let him out. The hen was then distressed to be the only one in the coop that I released her. I am refusing to feed at the pond as i want them to come in at night where it is safe. Any ideas?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

My muscovy are most active at night in warmer weather. They are perfectly capable of seeing at night and do a lot of foraging at night. They don't necessarily need to go in at night like other poultry.

 

[Sara Ranch]

Something that is on my wish list is a pole with a net at the end of it (like a pool scoop or a fishing scoop or a big butterfly net) so that I can more easily catch animals that need to be caught. Lol. Leave it at that.

If you had a net, you could probably redirect your duckies back to the coop. Once my duckies tasted freedom, they LOVED it!! My duckies are the best foragers of all my animals and the most adventuresome! They go and go and go and explore! I do get them back each night. Usually cuz they want a bed time snack before going to the safety of their house.

I hope your duckies stay safe!

 

[CntryBoy777]

I'm sorry to hear of your troubles. However, a waterfowl that has found water will not return to a coop. This is because it is an innate behavior to seek water for safety. Ya could construct an area at the pond, or put a doghouse like structure on a raft and anchor it out in the middle for their protection....just remember coons do swim, but can't outswim a mature waterfowl. Also, being in Alabama ya have to be mindful of moccasins in the warmer weather...all snakes can swim and many are egg eaters. I've known people that have maintained waterfowl in this fashion without many problems...it is the young that are most vulnerable. It would be like ya having lived in a tent and suddenly ya have a chance to live in a mansion...just because I wanted ya close and to stay in a tent....what would you choose?....

 

[Chickiemom25]

My muscovy are most active at night in warmer weather. They are perfectly capable of seeing at night and do a lot of foraging at night. They don't necessarily need to go in at night like other poultry.

really? they have never given me trouble at night before and I have lost 4 at night to i assume predators at the pond.

 

[Chickiemom25]

I'm sorry to hear of your troubles. However, a waterfowl that has found water will not return to a coop. This is because it is an innate behavior to seek water for safety. Ya could construct an area at the pond, or put a doghouse like structure on a raft and anchor it out in the middle for their protection....just remember coons do swim, but can't outswim a mature waterfowl. Also, being in Alabama ya have to be mindful of moccasins in the warmer weather...all snakes can swim and many are egg eaters. I've known people that have maintained waterfowl in this fashion without many problems...it is the young that are most vulnerable. It would be like ya having lived in a tent and suddenly ya have a chance to live in a mansion...just because I wanted ya close and to stay in a tent....what would you choose?....

they have always free ranged during the day and gone to the coop at night and been happy to do so. I am losing ducklngs to the snapping turtles I think ( or they are freezing at night) because their momma wont come back to the coop with them, but the rest of the adults.... don't know why they don't want to come back other than to lay eggs now .

 

[CntryBoy777]

Oh, if they have ducklings then that could certainly be the reason for them not returning. It is their nature to seek water for safety and it is a sad reality that in nature, very few ducklings make it to maturity. Just for the reason ya mentioned and a very long list that includes snappers. In reality it could be a mirad of things getting them, but it is the nature of the parents to act in the way they are acting for the safety of their brood. Anchoring a raft with a small shelter on it would give them a refuge out of the water and away from most land predators too. The only alternative would be to attempt to net them and take them back physically and keep them secured....no free ranging.

 

[Chickiemom25]

there is a small island in the pond. I am hoping with this next clutch, since the nest is IN the coop, I will be able to contain momma and the ducklings till they are big enough to do better with the cats at the house. Although 2 of the 3 cats pay no attention to little ones.

 

[CntryBoy777]

So, ya get them all back together?

 

[Chickiemom25]

So, ya get them all back together?

Yes. The one Drake is out with the mama at the pond , the other Drake is back in the coop with the three girls. Everyone’s free ranging during the day