Lock ducks inside the coop every night from dusk to dawn

Close and latch the coop door every evening before dark and open it after full daylight each morning. The vast majority of duck predator attacks — raccoons, foxes, coyotes, opossums, owls, and mink — happen at night. Ducks are nearly blind in the dark, sleep in a pile on the ground, and cannot fly to safety, making them the most vulnerable of all backyard poultry at night. A securely closed coop is the single most important predator defense.

Why It Works

Nocturnal predators account for roughly 80% of all backyard duck losses. A closed, latched coop with hardware cloth on all openings creates an impenetrable shelter during the most dangerous hours. Ducks can be trained to enter the coop at dusk with consistent herding for the first 1–2 weeks — after that, most will go in voluntarily as part of their routine.

Tips

• Herd ducks toward the coop at dusk using gentle body positioning and a long stick as a guide
• Once trained, ducks typically return to the coop on their own at dusk within 2 weeks
• Automatic coop doors with light sensors work for ducks but require a ground-level installation
• Close the door 30 minutes before full dark to ensure all birds are inside before predators become active
• Check for stragglers — a duck left outside overnight is extremely unlikely to survive in predator-prone areas