Getting ducks to coop up

[Photokitty]

So I inherited 5 ducks and 41 chickens. Then got 3 more ducks. I have the ducks a dogloo in the run but they REFUSE to coop up at night. Both sets are used to being in a coop, the first 5 were in with the chickens but my coop is about 18 inches off the ground with a ramp. the others had their own coop away from chickens. How on earth do I get them to coop up? Do I need to build a different type coop (the chickens use it more than the ducks)? I want to see if the ducks are laying eggs and they are in an enclosed run but I haven't found any yet. Help... The first picture is the new 3 and the second picture is the other 5. The coop you see is 7x7 so that underside goes under 7 ft in there. There are cinder blocks there and I have pretty good visibility.

 

[chickens really]

I keep my Chickens and Ducks separate. My Ducks hate my Chickens..Plus I feed them differently.
Your Coop and Run seams pretty crowded for that many Birds. How many Roosters do you have. Your Drakes could kill the Hens if they decide to breed the Chickens..Drakes have a penis and Chickens are not made for that type of breeding.

 

[CntryBoy777]

There are a couple of tbings working against ya. First there are birds of different flocks there, and since ya just got them all of their environment has changed, also the caretaker has changed. Being prey animals, this puts them on edge and it takes time for them to settle and get comfortable with all the new. Another "New" is the routine....most all animals are routine oriented and they expect things to run on their routine, when it doean't, they are at a loss as to what to do. Think of it this way....if someone cam and picked you up, took ya away from your surroundings, and placed ya in a totally different environment, with different people around ya....would you fit rigbt in, be comfortable, and follow the desired routine of those in charge?....I highly doubt it, but that is what you are expecting from them. It will take time, and you being consistant with your routine....ducks are usually easy to herd and you will have to herd them in and shut the door....they are not like chickens and never will be. Mine have had the same routine their whole life here, in the evening all I have to say is "Line em up Little man" and the drake calls out and they go into their nite pen....yes, sometimes I have to gently herd a couple in, but I still have to put them in....they are one and a half yrs old and I've had them since they were hatched. Your will, desire, and wishes don't just happen because you expect them....ya have to convey them to your animals and work with them....but, time is the issue...ya have to give them time to settle and get used to a new routine....and new flock mates....

 

[CarleeAnn]

As everyone has already mentioned it takes time and patience. A strong routine will do the trick, you just need to stick to it. Herd them into it every night, if one or more are unwilling pick them up and place them halfway in the door to force them to walk in. Close them in, let them out in the morning, and do it again the next night... and again... and again! Took my ducks about a week and now when I go out at sunset they just go in on their own. Sometimes if I’m a little late or early though one will just lay down and refuse to move so I have to pick her up and place her by the door, then she goes in.

Good luck!

 

[Photokitty]

I keep my Chickens and Ducks separate. My Ducks hate my Chickens..Plus I feed them differently.
Your Coop and Run seams pretty crowded for that many Birds. How many Roosters do you have. Your Drakes could kill the Hens if they decide to breed the Chickens..Drakes have a penis and Chickens are not made for that type of breeding.

Yes, I know that fact, this is for the winter. I am fencing off my garden plot next year, they will be very happy since they will be by themselves. Until then I am doing what I can, if the coop was actually lower the 5 would go with the chickens, they tend to just ignore them in their little pack around the run. I have 4 coops in various places for summer living, which I had planned on using until november but snow forced me to put the ones I had away back into the bigger coop. Surprisingly I have had very few issues, I expected a big problem and we are in the process of making a chunnel that goes into a run in the field thats behind this run (we have to put up a cow proof run). Only problem I had was my roo I call Butthead (his brother is Bevis) causing all kinds of upset. I put him with his brother and bam calm coop. I have I believe 7 roos in that coop. I am not too certain but its at least 7. One acts like a hen and until it started crowing I thought it was, I removed the other silkie roo from the coop and it stopped crowing.

 

[Photokitty]

There are a couple of tbings working against ya. First there are birds of different flocks there, and since ya just got them all of their environment has changed, also the caretaker has changed. Being prey animals, this puts them on edge and it takes time for them to settle and get comfortable with all the new. Another "New" is the routine....most all animals are routine oriented and they expect things to run on their routine, when it doean't, they are at a loss as to what to do. Think of it this way....if someone cam and picked you up, took ya away from your surroundings, and placed ya in a totally different environment, with different people around ya....would you fit rigbt in, be comfortable, and follow the desired routine of those in charge?....I highly doubt it, but that is what you are expecting from them. It will take time, and you being consistant with your routine....ducks are usually easy to herd and you will have to herd them in and shut the door....they are not like chickens and never will be. Mine have had the same routine their whole life here, in the evening all I have to say is "Line em up Little man" and the drake calls out and they go into their nite pen....yes, sometimes I have to gently herd a couple in, but I still have to put them in....they are one and a half yrs old and I've had them since they were hatched. Your will, desire, and wishes don't just happen because you expect them....ya have to convey them to your animals and work with them....but, time is the issue...ya have to give them time to settle and get used to a new routine....and new flock mates....

Thanks~ I plan on herding them in there tonight and I have a door to put on it. Thankfully they seem to just ignore the chickens, since they know all but 11 of them, and the three new ducks they just took them in like it was nothing and their little group seems to hang out in the extension or under the coop. They are slowly getting used to me. We are going to try and over spoil them this summer with a lovely pen that will be in my garden.

 

[Photokitty]

I have a routine now of herding them into the coop. First night we caught them in the extension and placed them in the coop. Well, the next night I didn't have my husband to help, he was busy with cows. So I devised a way to get them in the coop. I herded them into the extension, then setup a chute type system with the dogloo in the main run. Then herded them out of the extension (it has just a small door cut in it so its a good funnel). Once they went into the dogloo I put them up for the night. This has worked the last 3 nights. They are getting a bit wise to me but it is still working for now. I hope they continue to trust me a bit more, but with bitter weather on its way, having them cooped up is the best option for them. Plus I saw mating behavior with the Pekin so maybe eggs in future?