Ducks won't go back into coop

[HuntingChick14]

Last night I had a raccoon get into the chicken coop, which is also where my 3 ducks sleep. I went to go out and shut the coop door and noticed that the ducks were outside. I realized that there was a raccoon in there and quickly was able to dispatch it before it got any of my birds, luckily. But now, the ducks won't go back into the coop. They're staying in the pond that is on the other side of our 2 acre piece of property. They don't have any shelter out there, so I'm worried that something is going to come and get them. Is there any way that I can get them to go back into the coop at night? They're also extremely flighty. I can't get even remotely close enough to pick one up. This is also my first experience with having ducks, so I'm not very familiar with their behavior. Any help is much appreciated. Thank you!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Did you take care of the breach where the coon got in? Do that then feed the ducks at the coop. Do you have a pen? If you do put food an water right by the coop when they come into eat close the gate to the pen and lock them in then in the evening herd them inside. Hopefully they will be okay over night tonight. Not much you can do tonight. If you don’t have a pen maybe you can put one up. With out a pen to keep them inside to teach them the coop is safe I don’t know how you’ll get them back inside.

 

[HuntingChick14]

Yeah I don't have a pen system for them so I would have to do a make shift one. I keep their food outside of the coop, but only about 4 feet away from it and I saw them eating today, so they are getting closer, but it's making sure that they stay in the area is the problem! I think tomorrow, I will attempt to put something up to corral them in. Thank you for your input!

 

[CoriM]

Ducks scare SUPER easily! My ducks have been scared when I brought paper towels into their run - all taking off for their coop. I'm not surprised yours won't go back. A couple days ago there was a thread on here and someone put a new door into their duck coop and the ducks refused to come out because they were nervous. Maybe you can create an area that is completely predator proof so they feel secure there. Can you coax them back with treats?

 

[HuntingChick14]

The coop is quite predator proof, but I was late getting home that day to shut them in. I might be able to get them in with some corn so I’ll try that tomorrow as well.

 

[DuckyDonna]

Ducks scare SUPER easily! My ducks have been scared when I brought paper towels into their run - all taking off for their coop. I'm not surprised yours won't go back. A couple days ago there was a thread on here and someone put a new door into their duck coop and the ducks refused to come out because they were nervous. Maybe you can create an area that is completely predator proof so they feel secure there. Can you coax them back with treats?

Oh my gosh, you are so right. I recently made a new pool area with a nice pea gravel a cute ramp it looks so nice. Took them 11 days to get in that pool! They absolutely hate change of any kind! I had my chair in the wrong place tonight and they wouldn't go into their pen because the chair wasn't supposed to be there!

 

[DuckyDonna]

I definitely think you need a fenced-in run and a secure night pen for them, especially because there is a brazen predator lurking about. He knows where they are and he wants them really bad.

 

[Miss Lydia]

If you decide you need to make a temp pen the plastic poultry fence at Lowe’s or Home Depot works good and the plastic fence poles that you push into the ground makes an ideal temp run.

 

[HuntingChick14]

Well I don't have to worry about that specific raccoon again, that's for sure! I don't mess around with those nasty things! But I have also been considering building them their own little house down by the pond. I think for now I'm going to try to lure them in and then work on building a house for them in the meantime. Thank you!