Traumatized Ducks

[Blue Crow]

Once you have an coop herding is really painless- Try walking behind them slowly to herd them into the enclosure - a stick or broom handle waved to stop them scattering helps, when they are in the pen scatter some special treats or a quarter cabbage in after them, if you feed the sprouted grains or wet food putting it in there just before you herd them in works really well. - Chose they aren't going to wolf down in two seconds so they dont pop right back out, then shut the door. If you pair it with a cue word of phase like "Bed time for burbies" or some such (I use "To helmspeep" and point dramatically) you will get them trained to the point where you don't really have to herd them, unless one is being sassypants.


If they get a treat/ nice mash you're not locking them up your helping them find food and as time goes on you can cut the treats if you so desire.

Once they get used to it it really becomes their safe place and everyone can sleep better.

 

[casportpony]

There are probably some threads on BYC that have coop and run ideas.

Yes, good idea!
Also look here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/category/other-fowl-housing.35/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/category/chicken-coops.12/

 

[thumper650]

My ducks had to be placed in their house a few times before they realized that being herded in was better than getting manhandled every night. They still protest a little though.

 

[arrowti]

When my ducks were moved to a new pen we carried them all to it and closed them up in it. They stayed in the pen for a few days before we let them out, so they could acclimate. You want them to be comfortable with their pen so they are willing to go back in it. And locking them in was just the easiest way.

Best to do when the weather is mild. If it's really hot I wouldn't leave them locked in through the day!

 

[tabs1234]

They should start acting normally in a few days(sometimes more). It takes time for them to get over traumatizing events just like people. My geese were attacked by dogs while free ranging last week, and wouldn't leave their enclosure for a few days and were spooked by the sounds of barking dogs. They got better after about 4 days.
I would suggest building some sort of shelter for them to prevent any future attacks from predators.
If they don't like their pen, try giving them treats and food in the pen and lock then in it at night. They will eventually get used to it and treats reward them for staying in the pen.

It’s been 6 weeks since I lost most of my flock to raccoons. My 2 ducks that survived won’t leave the pen. They stay in the far corner. The female has stopped laying.
The chickens stay in the pen as well and have also stopped laying.
It’s so sad to see how scared they are.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Anyway you can move the setup you have to a new area? Have you fortified this one so this can't happen again? It has to heartbreaking to see them still traumatized from this attack, about all you can do is support them by making their pen a safe as possible and Trying to encourage them to move around. maybe something yummy like watermelon or pumpkin sliced open and put in an area in the pen where they have to move out of where they are?

 

[tabs1234]

It’s been 6 weeks since I lost most of my flock to raccoons. My 2 ducks that survived won’t leave the pen. They stay in the far corner. The female has stopped laying.
The chickens stay in the pen as well and have also stopped laying.
It’s so sad to see how scared they are.

I’ve been giving them treats.
I want to clean the entire area out and put fresh ground cover down.
I’m behind because of getting Covid and pneumonia. Hopefully I can get it done before winter hits.

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

So sorry for your loss. . May I suggest that you get a large dog crate and predator proof the door with hardware cloth (coons can reach in if you don't). Keep them in there at night until you can come up with another plan. Maybe this will help the three of you sleep better at night.
View attachment 1543548

I keep one of these around for just this kind of thing. I had a bird attacked by a raccoon during the day because she was in a wire dog kennel getting integrated outside the main run.

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

I agree about moving the pen as well. I had another raccoon attack and moved my girls to an entirely different run for a few months while I fortified the other. They were not as traumatized as your ducks are but I also caught the raccoon in the act so maybe that helped boost their confidence as well as going to their old run where nothing bad had happened before.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I’ve been giving them treats.
I want to clean the entire area out and put fresh ground cover down.
I’m behind because of getting Covid and pneumonia. Hopefully I can get it done before winter hits.

I'm so sorry you have been sick, makes it hard to get things done. Have you been able to fortify their pen since the attack? Living in fear like that makes me wonder if they are still being traumatized by something coming around their pen maybe during the day or night? A game camera would give you an idea.