Help! I bought an automatic coop door to let my ducks out in the morning but they won't use it. They just sit in their coop and pen all day instead

[Jameswyoung205]

Due to some new circumstances I had to buy an automatic door to let my ducks out in the morning. But it's been over a week and they still won't use it. If I physically herd them through the little automatic door it's a little bit tight but they fit and leave just fine (might have to duck their heads a bit but that's all), but every afternoon when I come to check if they have left their pen/coop they're all still just sitting around inside even though the door is wide open for them to go play in the creek.

I don't think it's a predator problem. This only started happening when I installed the automatic door and they still leave fine and play in the creek when I manually open the big door when I'm there.

Has anyone had this happen before? How do I train them to leave when the door opens? My only idea is buy an alarm clock, set it for the same time the auto door opens, and for a week usher them out myself as soon as the door and timer turn on. Then after that it will hopefully be habit and when the alarm and door opens that means go outside. Any other better ideas or experience?

Has anyone dealt with this?

 

[ruthhope]

No I have not had your experience but I have got 6 daft ducks that just this last week have decided not to go out in the morning. Prior to this, they could hear me coming and started shouting. I opened the door and out they shot. Now, just the one comes out and he turns round and goes back in when the others don't follow him. They seem to like the amplified sound of them all shouting at once inside the coop. They do eventually come out -- I get on and refill their wading pool and set up food bowl outside and then go back inside myself and leave them to it. Daft Ducks

 

[Quatie]

I would go out one morning before the coop door opens and toss a treat just inside the door and leading out. They will learn the door is not a scary thing. I was worried that would happen with my ducks the first it opened, so I went out there to watch them. They were a bit hesitant at first. Now they charge the automatic door. Treats definitely help.

 

[Jameswyoung205]

I would go out one morning before the coop door opens and toss a treat just inside the door and leading out. They will learn the door is not a scary thing. I was worried that would happen with my ducks the first it opened, so I went out there to watch them. They were a bit hesitant at first. Now they charge the automatic door. Treats definitely help.

Thanks! I'll have to give this a try this week

 

[Barefoot Farmer]

Are they doing better now? I don't put water in the coop at night that seems to help they want out to the water in am.