does anyone know how to make mandarin ducks more friendly?

chickenzzzz

In the Brooder
5 Years
Sep 16, 2014
32
1
34
i just got a pair of mandarin ducks and i was wondering if there was a way to make them more approachable and calmer. the male is actually much calmer but the female just gets so stressed out whenever i go by. is there a way to make them more friendlier and used to me being around them?
 
Just time. I went out and would toss corn or treats like cut up romaine lettuce and then just sit with them. I also talk to them. Mine wont take treats from my hand, but they don't fly or get too upset when I walk around their pen.
Slow movement and talking to them keeps them calm now. When I bring treats they come towards me instead of retreating:)
 
Just time. I went out and would toss corn or treats like cut up romaine lettuce and then just sit with them. I also talk to them. Mine wont take treats from my hand, but they don't fly or get too upset when I walk around their pen.
Slow movement and talking to them keeps them calm now. When I bring treats they come towards me instead of retreating:)
thank you
 
Not sure if this will help or not.. BUT.. when I moved my ducks to a new aviary, I clipped their wings... They still waddle away from me, but they no longer fly about, freaking out crazy. It gives me a chance to now sit in there with them while they swim and carry on...Its also much more peaceful...
 
My pair is incredibly calm, they take treats from my hand, come running to the aviary door for food/treats, and even with my 70 pound dogs jumping the wire..they could care less.

Now....
They were raised by me from ducklings, I kept them in a relatively small brooder in a high traffic area, and never held them as ducklings or chased them around the brooder....so I was never seen as a threat. I would offer treats allowing them time to come to me...at first LOTS of time! I also whistled to them before I fed or gave them treats...they now come running!

Before I released them into their aviary, I placed them in a smaller cage inside the pen, allowing the ducks to get accustomed to the outside world without the room to panic and injure themselves. After a week they were not bothered by the dogs walking by... or much else, and were let into the avairy.

When I'm in the aviary, I have to watch my feet because they're usually close by. I move slowly and they respond by doing the same.

Of course I had the advantage of raising this pair from very young, but you can still calm adults. I've had a few pairs of crazies before and I would just take a chair and go sit in, or just outside the pen. It may take weeks or even a few months, but eventually, they will become accustomed to you...perhaps not eating from your hand...but little or no wire collisions.

As others have said, clipping wings, moving slowly around them, and offering treats, will all help. .... and of course. .....patience!

Best of luck with them, they are fantastic Birds!
 
My pair is incredibly calm, they take treats from my hand, come running to the aviary door for food/treats, and even with my 70 pound dogs jumping the wire..they could care less.

Now....
They were raised by me from ducklings, I kept them in a relatively small brooder in a high traffic area, and never held them as ducklings or chased them around the brooder....so I was never seen as a threat. I would offer treats allowing them time to come to me...at first LOTS of time! I also whistled to them before I fed or gave them treats...they now come running!

Before I released them into their aviary, I placed them in a smaller cage inside the pen, allowing the ducks to get accustomed to the outside world without the room to panic and injure themselves. After a week they were not bothered by the dogs walking by... or much else, and were let into the avairy.

When I'm in the aviary, I have to watch my feet because they're usually close by. I move slowly and they respond by doing the same.

Of course I had the advantage of raising this pair from very young, but you can still calm adults. I've had a few pairs of crazies before and I would just take a chair and go sit in, or just outside the pen. It may take weeks or even a few months, but eventually, they will become accustomed to you...perhaps not eating from your hand...but little or no wire collisions.

As others have said, clipping wings, moving slowly around them, and offering treats, will all help. .... and of course. .....patience!

Best of luck with them, they are fantastic Birds!

thanks for the advice
 

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