Taming my ducklings

Take something to sit on in the pen, sit still and throw food.

Sami, we just bought 2 8 week old ducks on sunday. I try to go in the pen and stand there with the food at my feet, usually as soon as I go in the pen they run for the house. Each day it takes them a little less time to come out of the house and walk around the pen, but trust me as soon as I lift a finger the babies run right back in the house. Now Fred who has been in residence for awhile will tolerate me being in the pen and standing next to him, but don't make an attempt to pet him because he is not having it. I just take their personalities as they are and work at it each day. 

 

Good Luck

 

Rosie

Yup, treats, patience, and time.

 

Try singing to them.  They don't care if you cannot carry a tune, they just seem to like a little singing or chatting.  If I cannot think of something to say, I say "duck, duck, duck . . . " ad infinitum.

 

This has probably convinced the humans in my social circle to firm up their opinion of my state of mental health.

 

but as I tell visitors, friends make friendly little noises.  Predators are silent.

I knew I wasn't the only one having trouble catching or touching my ducks!!!!

One wonderful success today: I was sitting in a chair on the patio and feeding them some lettuce out of hand. I held both hands down very low and kept them close to my feet and managed to get hold of one of the four. I lifted the duck to my lap, talking gently all the time and began to stroke the head and breast. The poor thing was not so happy, and refused to take any more of the lettuce from my hand, so I didn't hold it very long. Now, at least, I feel encouraged that if I keep on trying, we'll get there. They want to be right near me whenever I am outside doing anything and they come to my voice. I think Amiga's advice about singing may be important. I use the duck, duck, duck in a sing-songy tone. I cannot get into their pen (too small) but feel like we are making progress. Thanks for all the suggestions. Ya just gotta love these critters!
 

I don't hold our ducks, but my grand daughter does. She usually holds them until they calm down. They don't want to be held at first but will calm down and lay down in her lap after a while. We have a rule though after that when they show any signs of wanting to leave its their choice not hers. She raised our pekin up until six months old when they came to live with me so I trust her methods, because our pekin is very very tame. We can pick her up basically at anytime unless she decides she doesn't want us to. She is not skittish at all which makes herding impossible. All this being said the mallards still don't get held much because they still keep their distance from us. I think a lot has to do with the breed and their individual personalities.

My pekin loves singing. I have a little song I made up for her about her name. I usually sing it really off key and she starts quaking very loudly back at me. Well maybe I should rethink that maybe she hates my singing...lol