my ducks hate me!help me get them to like me!

Well the subject title says it all. My rouens absolutley hate me. Well puddles ok with me. But the two females toot and nibbles hate me they scratch and bite me until i let them down. I tried the hold there beak for biting but when i let go they bite me again. I tried the food thing but they don't like the same treat's. I don't know what to do their 1 month and 2 weeks old. I want them to be attached to me like duckboys pekin is. lol. I hold them every night together and rub them sing them songs and everything but they just dont like it. Is it the way i hold them? I pick them up by there breast and butt and they scratch and freak out.
thanks.
duckgirl.

They probably havent been handled much before you got them. They are biting as they are scared so the first thing is to get them used to you. Holding their beaks will only scare them more at the moment. Continue to try winning them over with food- it does work with most ducks if you perservere. If you take away their food for an hour or so then hold some in your hands. Get down low on the ground so that you are less likely to appear huge and scarey.

I pick up more skittish ducks with my hands around their body- That way they cannot flap their wings. I then tuck them up under my arm - with their feet tucked up too so they cant scratch.

Listen to duckyfromoz!

She helped me sort out an issue with my runner ducklings. Stay low, don't come at them from above, lie down on your belly when you are offering treats.

I found out on my own that they were feeling cornered, and so they panicked. Can you have them with you in a safe space where they have at least 10 feet around you to step away? I ended up allowing my three-week-olds to go out in the hallway (barred from the cats) while I cleaned their brooder. The panic ended because they no longer felt trapped when I came in the room. I came in the room, by the way, as low as I could manage, squatting or on my hands and knees. When it comes to working with animals, I have no pride.

Perhaps roll (don't toss - they may think you are throwing things at them) a few peas toward them and wait while they take them. Your level of patience is going to affect their behavior. They may sense your frustration as anger toward them, which would be intimidating.

Keep smiling, keep saying sweet things in a soft voice. It will take longer than you want it to.

thankyou so much i will do that today.

THEY CAME TO ME!!!!! YES. I made a song up about them with there names in it lol they loved it!
thankyou all

Please show pix. I love duck pictures even though this does not need them! I've heard that it takes a while to get your duck bonded to you, and you can destroy that forever if you chase them around their yard once.

Quote:
And keep in mind that they are DUCKS!not dogs or cats or other lap pets. generally they don't like to be held. Even my more affectionate ducks that will climb up on my lap (when I am on the ground) and accept treats from my hand or enjoy being stroked tend to get down and leave if I try to hold or restrain them. I know duck owners that use holding as punishment when they are trying to train a bird not to do something (like untieing shoes or holding onto pant legs etc). Some older female ducks will accept restraint as they are restrained by the drake during mating but that is just sick to my mind.

Start a worm trap. We have about a 2foot by 1 foot piece of cardboard held down by a rock. The worms will surface to eat the cardboard, and you have free, instant duck treats. They now come running when I call them in the hopes of getting duck spaghetti. Keep the cardboard damp and check it in the morning or during a cooler part of the day.

Quote:
good job. duckyfromoz is really good with ducks!!! and i sing to mine all the time. they love it. and if i sing shake your booty to my female she will shake her butt lol

No, they don't hate you...they're really timid. I just got ducks for the first time after years of wanting some...got them at 5 weeks old...they are about 10 weeks now, my husband made them a large coop, but they only will come out of that when I'm right there...I can call them to the little pond we made for them and they play and eat in the pond. They are very skittish and fearful...they are absolutely terrified of the sound of airplanes and will stand motionless until one passes! They are not really afraid of me at all anymore, but I don't do anything to jar them or startle them. I sing to them and they get real quiet and listen...they follow me everywhere, but I still don't approach them...although I have held out lettuce or dandelions or worms to them, and they have eaten out of my hand. Just be gentle, and let them be.