My ducks won't return to the coop

[Debby Duck]

For the last few nights my 4 drakes have been later and reluctant to come in. And now tonight they wouldn't come in at all.

A few nights ago we had to start separating them because they fought viciously. First into pairs, but when that didn't work we took 2 into the garage and separated them by screen and kept 2 in the coop separated by a screen. At the same time we had to start treating one for an eye infection and another for head wound.

Even though we raised them from 2days old, they hate being touched or handled. A LOT. And they've been handled a lot in the past few days.

So, here's my question. Am I doing them wrong by keeping them if they are going to keep staying out? I don't want to have them picked off one by one but predetors. But I don't know what their situation would be if we rehomed them. I'm even worried one of them will end up drowned the way all three pile on him out in the lake. Which is where they spend most of their day and where they are right now.

There are no other ducks out there at night. So it's not females they're after. I don't know why they stopped coming home. It could have been either of the 2 things we were doing. Or maybe both I don't know. They're 11 months old. And they always came in on time until now.

I just hope they stay in the water.

 

[fatty and friends]

definitely find a way to get them in, even in the water at night something will get them

 

[Weeg]

I'm even worried one of them will end up drowned the way all three pile on him out in the lake

This suds like mating behavior. They have no reason to be doing this other then if that duck is a female.
Are you 100% certain you don't have a female? Can we get pics of all your ducks? Plus, if you don't own any females, there is absolutely no reason for then to be fighting. You never know of course, but it sure sounds like you may have a female to me.
Pics of there till feather, looking for drake curls, whole body pics, and beaks will help us determine gender. I hope we can get that cleared up.

Otherwise, definitly get them in. I agree with @fatty and friends, they need to be safe in their coop or they will be eaten.

 

[Debby Duck]

I'm 100% sure they are all male. All have drake feathers and sound the same. We've been trying to get them in all night. But they completely ignore us. They don't even come up into the yard.

They've never been this stubborn.

 

[Weeg]

I'm 100% sure they are all male. All have drake feathers and sound the same. We've been trying to get them in all night. But they completely ignore us. They don't even come up into the yard.

They've never been this stubborn.

Hmm, thats really odd. I'm trying to think of why they wouldn't want to go in.
Double check that there isn't anything dead in there, I can see that being an issue I guess. I'm trying to think of other reasons they wouldn't go in. They have always gone in before, odd.

 

[fatty and friends]

I'm 100% sure they are all male. All have drake feathers and sound the same. We've been trying to get them in all night. But they completely ignore us. They don't even come up into the yard.

They've never been this stubborn.

the problem is you are keeping them on a pond, where wild ducks (including females) can go. during the day they can see and chase the females, which makes them fight each other.

 

[Debby Duck]

Hmm, thats really odd. I'm trying to think of why they wouldn't want to go in.
Double check that there isn't anything dead in there, I can see that being an issue I guess. I'm trying to think of other reasons they wouldn't go in. They have always gone in before, odd.

Do you think the fact that we're separating them and treating the wound and eye is a reason?

 

[Debby Duck]

What's really odd is, they do chase ducks on the pond. But they never really want to catch them. I've seen them once in a while have the opportunity but stop short of pouncing. They usually chase the male and ignore the female. And I think they are just being territorial the way they act.

Also they do most of their fighting when the other ducks aren't around. Including while in the coop. I have seen them fight on occasion after chasing the mottled couple. But that hasn't happened much. BTW, the couple just taunts them for a bit and then fly off.

When they chase the muscovys, they appear to just care about getting them off the lawn, then they stop. Except for once in a while chasing across the pond.

We have about 5-6 ducks that show up. The 2 mottled (a couple) and 3 or 4 muscovys. I have no idea what they are.

I don't know if that changes anything.

 

[KaleIAm]

I'm sorry you continue to have complicated duck issues. While all ducks are individuals I have similar experiences with my ducks when I am medicating them. Instead of running to me they will start running away from me. Even the ones I am not giving medication to at the time will begin to suspect me. I don't blame them. Instead of being the bringer of mealworms and water buckets I become the person who grabs them and their friends - a scary predator like experience. The good news is that within 2 weeks after I stop the medication things go back to normal and my ducks start eagerly running up to me again. This is why I go to great lengths to hide my duck's daily oral medication inside grape tomatoes.

I suspect that when your drake's environment returns to a more pleasant one where they aren't getting handled they will start coming back again. Or it is possible that they don't like the barrier.

The decision to rehome pet drakes is a challenging one. Don't forget that your needs are important, too, when making it. If you can no longer provide for them it is ok to rehome. I'm not sure they will be better off with someone else. I do think a bigger sleeping area would be good, but I know you have size restrictions.

*hugs* I support you whatever you do.

 

[fatty and friends]

if you do end up needing to rehome, there are a lot of homes willing to take drakes (and not eat them) if you look good enough. one of my boys could not get along with more than one other duck at a time, and now he lives with just 1 other drake (no girl ducks) and a few other types of birds (chicken, guinea) and is super happy. we even get to visit him whenever we want