New coop substrate, ducks stopped using coop

[IckenchayOverlay]

I got three Pekin ducklings last summer. They grew up using their coop, which they’ve always been good about going into at night and hang out in sometimes during the day. So, they’re well habituated to it and seem to like it.

A couple days ago, I changed the bedding, and since then they haven’t gone back in, even at night.

I always line it with straw. I’m out of straw at the moment, so this time I used pine shavings.

Could a change of substrate explain their new distaste for the home they grew up in? Or are there other changes that occur as a duck matures that might explain this behavior? Nothing else in their living environment has changed.

 

[azygous]

I don't know ducks, but chickens certainly hate change of any sort, and changing their litter would sure do it. Stubborn little twerps.

The way to get these fowl critters to accept change is to expose them to it and give them no alternative but to accept it. Round those ducks up and shove them into their coop tonight and shut them in. It shouldn't take more than one or two nights of this to get them on board.

 

[ruthhope]

I have to agree with azygous that ducks are creatures of habit and sure, its the new bedding they are protesting. But they must go in the coop -- you are the boss, and predators are out there. So do what your must to enforce bedding down in the coop. There is nothing intrinsically wrong with pine shavings -- I use it in my duck coop, occasionally layering it with live oak leaves as I have a large supply of oak leaves!

 

[ruthhope]

I don't know ducks, but chickens certainly hate change of any sort, and changing their litter would sure do it. Stubborn little twerps.

Chickens are twerps; ducks are daft!

 

[Crazy Maizie]

Ducks definitely hate change and are more disturbed by it than chickens. I just make them go in their coop especially if it's for their safety.