Advice on taming ducklings?

[doodleduck]

I’ve had call ducks for a long time but this is the first time one of my ducks has had ducklings. I’m new at this so sorry if this question seems a bit stupid!! I keep them as pets so I’m a bit too invested in their emotional well-being!

Their mother is extremely aggressive and bites and attacks me when I change their food and water. I’m extremely careful to behave in a non-threatening way but she’s having none of it!!

They’re only a couple of days old so I’m biding my time but it’s extremely important to me that this new generation of ducks is very tame and trusts people (my current group I tried hard to tame but I got them as adults so not too successful)

They’re getting frightened of me because she quacks when I’m near and also will knock over a duckling or two on her way to attack me! Any advice how to tame them without distressing them by taking their mother away, which I have a feeling would be unnatural and cruel?? Any advice would be appreciated!

 

[LRH97]

I have Muscovy moms that behave in much the same way. Incubator or human raised babies of anything, especially ducks and geese, will almost always be tamer than naturally-raised birds. Most of my Muscovies have been raised by a mother duck. None are terrified of me, but you can definitely tell the difference in friendliness between them and my hand-raised geese.

I would suggest just sitting with them and offering corn or treats on the ground next to you. If you feed and water them multiple times a day and are around them a lot, even adult birds will become somewhat accustomed to you and will associate you with food. You may not get hand-raised friendliness, but there's a good chance that you'll get birds that aren't deathly terrified of you if you invest a little time with them.

I certainly wouldn't separate them from their mother. It sounds like she's doing a very good job and taking her duties seriously!

PS
You have some very adorable little babies there! And a beautiful mom!

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

Meal Worms! - I sat in a public park once with a container of meal-worms and even the wildest mallard momma with her babies (!) were starting to eat out of my hand.

 

[Duckie doodle]

Try to spend as much time with them that you can. I sat in my duck coop for 4 hours just to get some of my "non-hand raised ducks" accustom to me. Give them lots of treats like meal worms.

 

[Wicked Storm]

Ah finally! My animal training skills come in good hand!
First off, do you have any ducks that come up to you? Or any other animals? When one animal sees another coming up, they automatically assume it is ok. Second, you need to give them treats that you know they will like, including mama. While it is very hard to gain a mama's trust, it is possible. Last year I trained two babies (originally three) that I was alright. I was able to let them and everything, completely wild. Mama eventually learned as well, they loved worms. Still do to this day. They learned from another duck named Squeakers who always fed out of my hand. I made sure they saw and eventually they got jealous enough to come over. Even if you don't have other animals of any kind that come up, treats work very well as well. Once they learn the food is coming from you they will come up. It takes a while, but it is worth it! The mama will definitely be a tough one, but offer her a lot of food and just sit with them for a while, get closer each day, and eventually you will have it. Food is love to an animal. She just thinks you are taking the food and water away from her, any animal's instinct. Good luck and ask any questions you need! (I love.animal training, I train everyday and rehabilitate and do some get work as well )

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

But! Careful what you wish for! You might get more than you expect!
Our ducks come running, flying and limping when they hear one of us leaving the house, begging for some treats. And trust me: It is so hard to resist a begging duck... so freaking hard!

 

[doodleduck]

I have Muscovy moms that behave in much the same way. Incubator or human raised babies of anything, especially ducks and geese, will almost always be tamer than naturally-raised birds. Most of my Muscovies have been raised by a mother duck. None are terrified of me, but you can definitely tell the difference in friendliness between them and my hand-raised geese.

I would suggest just sitting with them and offering corn or treats on the ground next to you. If you feed and water them multiple times a day and are around them a lot, even adult birds will become somewhat accustomed to you and will associate you with food. You may not get hand-raised friendliness, but there's a good chance that you'll get birds that aren't deathly terrified of you if you invest a little time with them.

I certainly wouldn't separate them from their mother. It sounds like she's doing a very good job and taking her duties seriously!

PS
You have some very adorable little babies there! And a beautiful mom!

Sorry for the late reply! Great advice thanks!

 

[doodleduck]

Ah finally! My animal training skills come in good hand!
First off, do you have any ducks that come up to you? Or any other animals? When one animal sees another coming up, they automatically assume it is ok. Second, you need to give them treats that you know they will like, including mama. While it is very hard to gain a mama's trust, it is possible. Last year I trained two babies (originally three) that I was alright. I was able to let them and everything, completely wild. Mama eventually learned as well, they loved worms. Still do to this day. They learned from another duck named Squeakers who always fed out of my hand. I made sure they saw and eventually they got jealous enough to come over. Even if you don't have other animals of any kind that come up, treats work very well as well. Once they learn the food is coming from you they will come up. It takes a while, but it is worth it! The mama will definitely be a tough one, but offer her a lot of food and just sit with them for a while, get closer each day, and eventually you will have it. Food is love to an animal. She just thinks you are taking the food and water away from her, any animal's instinct. Good luck and ask any questions you need! (I love.animal training, I train everyday and rehabilitate and do some get work as well )

Sorry for the late reply! That's so insightful about 'food is love to an animal' I wouldn't have thought of that guess I was thinking too human!!
Thanks a lot!

 

[doodleduck]

Try to spend as much time with them that you can. I sat in my duck coop for 4 hours just to get some of my "non-hand raised ducks" accustom to me. Give them lots of treats like meal worms.

Sorry for the late reply thanks I'll give it a go!

 

[doodleduck]

Try to spend as much time with them that you can. I sat in my duck coop for 4 hours just to get some of my "non-hand raised ducks" accustom to me. Give them lots of treats like meal worms.

Sorry for the late reply thank you so much for the advice! I could never find a food that motivated my ducks to come near before and I never tried mealworms. I just bought some and they are obsessed!!!! And they're already getting a bit tamer! Thanks so much. Also, you did mean dried mealworms? I never bought them before so wasn't sure if that's what people mean when they say mealworms