unusual ducks

[annie3001]

hello.
my 4 ducks, have a pool, fresh feed and a well built run. whats the problem? they are always in their coop. is this a normal behavior? owning ducks is totally new for me. these girls were born about 2 months ago. i have to call them out, just to get out of the coops.
btw: weather here is beautiful, i just dont get it.

 

[DurhamDuck]

Could they be laying?

 

[annie3001]

at 2 months old?

 

[DurhamDuck]

lol sorry, I missed the 2 months old part!

 

[bt03]

Mine do this to. They stay in the coop all day long unless I go out to play/feed/talk to them. I like to think that they are sad when I am not home and only want to enjoy good weather with me there

Ok so maybe thats not true at all but I think they just like to relax a lot and be lazy

 

[Balbinka]

If you raised them from hatchlings, they are still young enough to think of you as "mommy".

It will take time for them to pluck up the courage to go outside on their own.

It's an instinctual thing. You protected them as babies (like mum ducks do in the wild) and now you have left them to be on their own and protect themselves. They are not yet confident enough to venture outdoors without you there. Be patient, as they need to grow a bit older before they'll be totally comfortable going outside without their "mommy".

Make going out to the run a positive experience. Work on extending the period of time they play outside without you before noticing you've left (start outside with them, slowly leave back to the house- return when they cry and slowly try to make that time period of you walking away longer before they notice you leaving).

 

[Hattiegun]

could something have scared them ?? snake / varment of some kind... Mine were in the house for first 2 months tll their pen was finished, couldnt keep them out of thier pond and everytime I got close they thought they were going to have to go back to the house and they'd take off LOL .. they hardly go in the hut .... throw some treats in their pool. lettuce , peas , etc. maybe that will entice them .

 

[annie3001]

Quote:
oh my. i havent thought about that, it makes total sense. thanks for the eye opener. i do notice, when i call to them, they come outside to their run. i
guess i assumed they would come out and enjoy the sun and what beautiful weather we have been having.
also, to the other poster, i sure hope they were scared off by a predator. their run is pretty safe. i have hardwire cloth all along the sides of the run and door etc. along with that is a tarp on top and the back of the run. ill have to take a new picture of their run/home.

thanks for all your feedback